Mizzou basketball in mix as top-six school for graduate transfer Justin Turner
Despite NCAA recruiting restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Missouri men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin and the Tigers are reportedly in the race for a sought-after graduate transfer.
According to 247Sports, former Bowling Green guard Justin Turner has trimmed his list to six schools and Missouri made the cut. The other schools he’s considering are Xavier, Marquette, Arkansas, Louisville and Iowa State.
Turner, a former first-team All-MAC player, is considered one of the best grad transfers on the market. In the 2019-20 season, he averaged 18.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
A 6-foot-4 guard, Turner would fill an immediate need as a go-to scorer. If he committed to the Tigers, it could boost them into the NCAA Tournament conversation for 2021, depending on who returns for Mizzou.
Projecting his role on the team, Turner could slide into the starting lineup alongside Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith, Mizzou’s two leading scorers last season.
When Mizzou struggled offensively — a common theme last season — they couldn’t make three-pointers and lacked a third scoring threat alongside Pinson and Smith. Turner, a career 37.3% three-point shooter, could fill multiple roles for the Tigers.
Mizzou has two guaranteed scholarship spots open. Former Tigers forward Tray Jackson and guard Mario McKinney Jr. both entered the transfer portal. Forward Reed Nikko is set to exhaust his eligibility, but the NCAA is still examining eligibility relief for winter sports student-athletes who missed out on the postseason.
For the current Class of 2020, Mizzou has already signed 7-foot-3 forward Jordan Wilmore, who’s considered a project.
After the NCAA canceled all winter and spring sports championships, it also instituted a temporary recruiting dead period until April 15. The restrictions include no on- or off-campus recruiting. This means Turner is going through the recruiting process without making any campus visits.
Another factor going for Missouri: Turner is a Detroit native. He spoke with 247Sports about the connection he made with the Mizzou coaching staff. Mizzou assistant coach Cornell Mann is from the Detroit area.
“I definitely feel like I’ve developed a good relationship with Missouri,” Turner told 247Sports. “The two coaches are from the Detroit area, and know they know a lot about the area. Cuonzo Martin is a very good dude. ...”