Missouri men’s basketball roster for 2015-16
No. 1 Terrence Phillips
Height: 5-11
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard
Hometown: Orange County, Calif.
During his high school career, Phillips helped lead Oak Hill Academy to a sterling 88-4 record. He’s a pass-first point guard, but possesses the ability to get the rim and can provide some point production in addition to being an active defender.
No. 2 Martavian Payne
Height: 6-2
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Hometown: St. Louis
It’s unclear if Payne will play this season after coach Kim Anderson announced Friday he would step away from basketball to focus on academics. Originally signed with Southeast Missouri out of high school, but played two seasons at John A. Logan Community College in Illinois instead.
No. 4 Tramaine Isabell
Height: 6-0
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Hometown: Seattle
Settling in after a tumultuous freshman season, he’s never met a shot he was scared to take and provides energy off the bench at both ends of the floor. Isabell can really fill it up offensively when his shot starts dropping and he’s shown clutch ability.
No. 5 D’Angelo Allen
Height: 6-7
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Hometown: Dallas
Allen started the final eight games last season. He’s a scrappy player, who often provided a spark off the bench last season and will look to continue that role in 2015-16. Allen slimmed down and should be more effective at both ends of the floor now that he’s in better shape.
No. 10 K.J. Walton
Height: 6-3
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard
Hometown: Brownsburg, Ind.
Ranked No. 103 by Rivals in the 2015 recruiting class, Walton was signed with a reputation and athletic defender with potential lock-down ability on the perimeter. He’s shown better shooting tough than expected from long range and gives Missouri a slashing presence it lacked last season.
No. 12 Namon Wright
Height: 6-5
Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Hometown: Los Angeles
Wright had some scintillating games last season and averaged 13.6 points in the final five games. He’s as reinvigorated as any player by the prospect of a new season and provides perimeter scoring ability with defensive upside.
No. 15 Wes Clark
Height: 6-0
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Hometown: Detroit
His sophomore season was cut short by a dislocated elbow suffered at South Carolina, but Clark is fit as a fiddle and ready to pick up where he left off. He averaged 10.1 points per game last season and is the most seasoned, experienced player in Missouri’s backcourt.
No. 23 Jakeenan Gant
Height: 6-8
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Hometown: Springfield, Ga.
Big things are expected from Gant, who packed on some muscle during the offseason while not adding weight that would hinder his abilities. He should benefit from a full season after missing the first nine games last year amid an NCAA eligibility investigation.
No. 24 Kevin Puryear
Height: 6-7
Year: Freshman
Position: Forward
Hometown: Blue Springs
The reigning DiRenna Award winner as the top high school player in Kansas City, Puryear brings a championship pedigree after leading Blue Springs South to a state title last season. He provides much-needed bulk on the interior and projects as a terrific rebounder with better scoring touch and range than some might anticipate.
No. 25 Russell Woods
Height: 6-8
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Hometown: Chicago
Missouri needed size and a post scoring presence, which Woods provides. He’ll still be undersized defensively in many games, but Woods’ hustle and athleticism makes him a tough matchup in the open floor.
No. 33 Cullen VanLeer
Height: 6-4
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard
Hometown: Pacific, Mo.
Steps in as probably the best pure shooter on the Tigers’ roster. After the offense’s well-documented struggles last season, Missouri needed a knock-down three-point shooter and VanLeer, who topped 2,000 points in high school, fills that void.
No. 44 Ryan Rosburg
Height: 6-10
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Hometown: Chesterfield, Mo.
The only senior on the roster and a longtime Missouri fan, Rosburg will be tasked with providing leadership off the floor and some physicality on it. He’s unlikely to develop into a big-time scoring threat in the post, but he’s a good rebounder and adequate defender. Any point production is a bonus.
Walk-ons
No. 11 Jimmy Barton, No. 13 Trevor Glassman, No. 32 Adam Wolf
Tod Palmer: 816-234-4389, @todpalmer
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Missouri men’s basketball roster for 2015-16."