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Missouri basketball signs two in-state players on opening day of early signing period

The Tigers went 2-for-2 before noon.

Missouri basketball signed both of the players verbally committed to its Class of 2025 — point guard Aaron Rowe and power forward Nicholas Randall — on the first day of the college basketball early signing period, which opened Wednesday and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 20.

More: How Tolton’s Aaron Rowe arrived at Missouri basketball commitment, and who the Tigers are getting

More: Dennis Gates benched Caleb Grill: Here’s how that saved Missouri basketball from upset loss

Rowe, listed at 6-foot, 155 pounds, is a Columbia local who is currently playing his senior season of high school at Tolton. He is a four-star point guard ranked as No. 79 prospect in the country on 247Sports’ composite rankings. He is the No. 12-ranked point guard in his class, per the recruiting service.

The point guard has been committed to Mizzou since last December.

“Aaron Rowe is a young man I truly believe is electric between the lines,” Gates told local media during press availability Wednesday. “He does a tremendous job pushing the pace. Quick, athletic, pass skills and versatility. The thing is, he's a local kid, and when you have a local kid coming from the city of CoMo, the support is there. His future is very bright, and I'm excited because he was one of the first high school kids that I walked in the gym to see upon being named (Missouri's coach).”

Tolton's Aaron Rowe (1) brings the ball up court at Tolton High School on Jan. 10, 2024 in Columbia, Mo.
Tolton's Aaron Rowe (1) brings the ball up court at Tolton High School on Jan. 10, 2024 in Columbia, Mo.

Randall is a St. Louis product and previously played out Vashon High, but transferred to play a national schedule in his senior season at AZ Compass, a prep school, in Chandler, Arizona. Randall, listed at 6-7, 225, is the No. 120-ranked player in his class and the No. 9-ranked prospect coming out of Arizona.

“Multiple state championships, player of the year. That kid, to go to AZ Compass — his team would have been another state championship team. He would have been Missouri Player of the Year,” Gates said. “And I think when you look at what he brings to the table, he brings versatility, he brings size, he brings a championship pedigree, he brings toughness, and he brings the city of St Louis.”

With the two signings now officially on board, Mizzou has the No. 35-ranked class in the nation, per 247Sports. That ranks 13th among SEC schools, but was not entirely unexpected given the size of Gates’ previous recruiting class.

Missouri has five freshmen currently undergoing their rookie campaigns in Columbia. Four-star forward Annor Boateng has made two starts in the Tigers’ first three games of the season, and four-star wing Marcus Allen has played significant minutes. Peyton Marshall has appeared, albeit sparingly, in all three games, while center Trent Burns and point guard T.O. Barrett are yet to see the court as Tigers.

Mizzou might not quite be finished on the recruiting trail for its 2025 class, though.

Missouri is still in the running for four-star shooting guard Davion Hannah, who is expected to announce his commitment soon. He currently plays at Link Academy is Branson.

Hannah has Missouri, Alabama, Ohio State and Cincinnati listed among his finalists for his college destination, and he is ranked as the No. 33 player in his class and the No. 2 prospect out of Missouri.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball signs 2 in-state players to open early signing period