Missouri basketball could get help from transfers a season sooner than expected

By Alex Schiffer

Updated October 18, 2018 11:10 AM

Birmingham, Ala.

Cuonzo Martin said on Wednesday at SEC Media Days that Missouri is in the process of submitting waivers to try and get transfers Mark Smith and Dru Smith eligible for this upcoming basketball season.

Both players are expected to sit out under NCAA rules after transferring from Illinois and Evansville.

“We try to work every option,” Martin said. “We’ll see.”

Martin has no timetable for the NCAA to rule on either player and said rulings are usually done on a case-by-case basis. Former Missouri point guard Blake Harris was ruled immediately eligible at North Carolina State after transferring at semester. Over the years the NCAA has become more lenient on similar cases, though Harris said in his appeal that he transferred to be closer to home, which neither Smith could do.

The addition of either Smith would be a major addition to a Missouri team that lost experience with the graduation of Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett. Mark Smith is more of a point guard, a position that the Tigers only have two scholarship players at, while Dru Smith is more of a wing.

Martin on Pickett

Martin has praised freshman Javon Pickett throughout the offseason for his work ethic and the 6-foot-4 wing is expected to get a lot of minutes this season. Martin said on Wednesday that his ties to Pickett go back to when the Belleville, Ill. native was a toddler.

Pickett’s best friend is Rico Sylvester Jr., whose father was Martin’s high school teammate. Martin had followed Pickett’s career and jumped at the chance to add him once he reopened his recruitment after picking Illinois.

“I’ve watched him for years,” Martin said. “I knew what kind of player he was. I knew he was a worker, a guy that always has the ability to score the ball.”

Santos still out

Junior college transfer K.J. Santos is still out because of a fractured foot and there is no timetable for his return. Martin said Santos has missed at least three weeks of practice and could see the doctor this week.

Braun impresses

Missouri forwards Jontay Porter and Kevin Puryear are very high on former Blue Valley Northwest standout Parker Braun. Braun passed up offers from Ole Miss and Arizona to walk on to Missouri, the school where his mother and uncle both played basketball.

Puryear said Braun has the highest vertical on the team at 37 inches.

“He’s an energetic guy,” Porter said. “He reminds me of me from last year.”

Braun is supposed to be in the dunk contest at Mizzou Madness on Saturday. Porter has picked him to win it.