The Mizzou men’s basketball team added to the nation’s seventh-ranked signing class, inking four-star prospect Cameron Barnes (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) on Wednesday.
A top-100 player, Barnes helped Link Academy to an 11-4 record as a junior while advancing to the quarterfinals at the 2026 Chipotle Nationals Tournament.
“Cameron is a pure winner and has had success at every program he has touched,” said Whitten Family Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dennis Gates. “He brings a toughness and physicality to his game that generates an energy that is contagious within a program. He is a true enforcer on the defensive end of the court, while featuring a smash-mouth game offensively and the ability to stretch the floor with his 3-point range. There is a lot of upside to Cameron and his college production and we couldn’t be happier to continue to lock down the Missouri border and keep him home in the Show Me State.”
Now playing for Lee’s Summit West High School in his hometown, Barnes spent the summer playing for MOKAN Elite. He averaged 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during regular-season play – shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.
The 6-foot-7 standout also helped MOKAN advance to the Peach Jam Tournament – the premier tournament on the EYBL circuit. In six games at Peach Jam, Barnes tallied 8.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game – shooting 51.2 percent from the field.
“Cam is everything you hope for in a player and everything you want in a young man,” said Lee’s Summit West head coach Kyle Lower. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve had the opportunity to coach, but it’s his character and work ethic that make him so special. He’s a leader who makes everyone around him better. Coaching him has been an absolute privilege. I could not be more happy for him and I am excited to watch him take the next step at the University of Missouri. Mizzou is getting a special player, but more importantly, they’re getting an outstanding young man. We are all very proud of him here at Lee’s Summit West.”
Barnes is the Tigers’ second signee in the nation’s seventh-ranked Class of 2027, joining Devin Cleveland. It marks the third time in the last four years that Gates has landed a top-10 class nationally, joining the fourth-ranked Class of 2024 and the eighth-ranked Class of 2026.