Get to know DeAndre Gholston, latest transfer to commit to Missouri Tigers basketball
DeAndre Gholston announced his commitment to the Missouri Tigers men’s basketball program on Saturday afternoon.
The 6-foot-5 guard out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is the second transfer in two days to join Mizzou under Dennis Gates, who was officially announced as head coach earlier this week.
Gholston began his college career at Kent State, went to Tallahassee Community College in Florida for a year, and then spent two seasons with the Panthers. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season and entered the transfer portal after coach Patrick Baldwin Sr. was fired.
The Star spoke to Gholston a couple hours after his commitment. Here is a Q/A with him about his decision to come to Missouri, his relationship with Gates, what he plans to bring to the program and more.
Editor’s note: The order of some parts of the conversation have been moved around for clarity.
How are you feeling after announcing your commitment?
“I’m excited. Any time it’s a new journey in my life, always nervous but excited. More so excited because I know Coach Gates and I know what I can do and what I can bring into a program. So, excited.”
You played against Dennis Gates in the Horizon League, but how far back does your relationship go?
“(Gates) recruited me out of juco, I just just didn’t go there. But since then, from afar I watched him coach Cleveland State, always kept in contact every once in a while, just checked in. And we just been kinda, you know, not super close, but just close over the last few years.”
What was it like playing against Gates’ Cleveland State teams?
“Me playing against it, uh it wasn’t fun. His teams were always tough, always together, and I think that’s just what playing for him is — having a great team, toughness, being great teammates to each other and being coachable.”
When did Gates first reach out to you about coming to Mizzou?
“Before he got the job, he reached out, you know, during the Cleveland State time he was still there. And that was because I was considering (Cleveland State) as well. But when he got the job at Mizzou, maybe a day or two passed, and he called back and he still asked if I wanted to be with him and play for him. So I made a decision that I would like to play for him.”
What was the recruiting process with Gates like out of junior college and what made you want to play for him now?
“I just wanted to play for a coach that I feel like believed in me as a player and as a person. So me not going with him the first time around, I kind of was thinking about it heavy. He was big on me recruiting. He came and saw me in Tallahassee maybe four times, we talked all the time. So just the relationship he built with me through recruiting. And then when I didn’t commit there, he still believed in me, kept contact and just wished me the best from afar. And I couldn’t pass on that again, you know?”
What did Gates talk with you about in terms of his plan for Mizzou and the team moving forward?
“Me and him kind of discussed the plan, you know, just know things that I can do better, I can be better at to help the program with and the direction he wants the program to go in. And I think I can help. With the whole SEC having — not the whole, but most of the SEC having a coaching change and different teams, I think we can come in and find ways to win games and be good in the league.”
“He kind of just talked about, like I said, the difference in the league now and how we can come in and just be tough with good shooting, good physicality and win games. You know, try to see if we get an at-large bid for the tournament and see what we can do from there.”
What other schools recruited you this offseason?
“I was talking to a lot of different schools. I talked to Butler, talked to Georgia Tech, talked to Richmond, Boston College, a lot of different schools. I feel like some of them wasn’t that serious, but got a good opportunity and thankful they reached out. But I feel like Coach Gates was the most consistent and serious one with me, and that’s why I decided.”
Rewinding things back a bit, why did you decide to go down a level to juco after a year at Kent State?
“Just different things. Kent State, they had a lot of upperclassmen there at the time. And the program was great, but me and the coach really didn’t see eye to eye. I didn’t think I would get the opportunity that I deserved there. So I just said I would go juco and make myself better and come back.”
How did going to juco help you, and what is unique about guys that go through that route?
“It just makes you tougher. Because everybody thinks going into college that you’re going to play all these minutes and so forth. But going through things like that makes you a lot tougher. It makes you mentally tougher. It makes you realize that this thing is a business, how to bring value into a program in order to get minutes. Just going juco, it’s not for everybody. But it made me better, it made me tougher physically and mentally and allowed me to be in the position I am now.”
How would you describe your playing style and what you bring each time you step on the court?
“Shooting, tough, physical, can get to the rim. So I think my shooting and my ability to get to the rim will help out a lot in the league. Especially in a league like the SEC, you know. It’s tough, physical. So I think me being tough and having a strong body will help out a lot.”
You ranked in the 82nd percentile nationally in defense last season, according to Synergy. How big of an emphasis do you place on defense?
“Yeah, it’s big. Because most of the college players now, we all have dreams to go to the NBA or play professionally period. And defense is a huge part. Everybody can’t go to the NBA and be James Harden and Kyrie Irving, things like that. So you have to make an impact on defense. Coach Gates, being who he is and watching his teams play and playing against his teams, he’s big on defense and being tough. So I know he can help me out and help me improve even more in that category.”
What else should Mizzou fans know about you and what to expect from you?
“I think I will bring some fun to Mizzou, some excitement. Toughness, of course, and just someone who wants to work and is willing to help any way possible.”
This story was originally published March 26, 2022 at 6:43 PM.
