Missouri Tigers men’s basketball program signs pair of 4-star in-state prospects

Missouri Tigers coach Dennis Gates on Wednesday announced the signing of two in-state, four-star high school hoops players as the early signing period began for basketball: guard Aaron Rowe and forward Nicholas Randall.

Rowe, a four-star recruit who has played for both Father Tolton High School in Columbia and Link Academy, is a consensus top-100 prospect in the class of 2025 who currently rates as high as No. 53 nationally.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Aaron has decided to stay home, remain in CoMo and be a part of our Mizzou family,” Gates said in a news release announcing the signings. “He was a priority for us from day one as one of the top point guard prospects in the country.”

Gates went on to describe the 6-foot Rowe as “a cerebral point guard with elite quickness and athleticism who can create for his teammates. With him being a homegrown player here in Columbia, we’ve really gotten to know Aaron over the last two-plus years. He is already a familiar face within our program ...”

A 6-foot-8 forward, Randall led Vashon High in St. Louis to a state title in each of his three seasons with the Wolverines program, earning player of the year honors as a junior.

He was selected Class 4 Player of the Year by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 10.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this past season. He also had eight double-doubles.

“Nicholas is a player that we’ve built a strong relationship with since we first stepped foot on campus,” Gates said in the news release. “He is a perfect fit for our system.”

Ranked as high as No. 117 in the nation, Randall will play at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, as a high school senior this winter.

Gates went on to say this about Randall at what he brings to Mizzou: “His ability to shoot and pass at his size makes him a special player. What truly makes him elite, however, is his IQ, how he sees the game and his ability to communicate. He is a proven winner at every level and was a key piece of three state championship teams and he will only continue to grow at AZ Compass Prep.”

Both signings are recruiting wins for Gates, whose Tigers are off to a 2-1 start to the 2024-25 season.

“With the signing of (Randall) and Aaron,” the coach said, “we made an emphasis to close down the border and add the best talent in the state of Missouri.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2024 at 1:20 PM.