In the days after news broke that Dennis Gates would become Mizzou Basketball’s new head coach, talk has focused on numerous qualities that he may bring. One in particular is the new coach’s ability to quickly supplement a roster that finished the 2022 campaign 12-21.
There’s no question that recruiting is a vital component to building a successful basketball program. Beyond looking at players Coach Gates’s previous programs have landed, how does one quantify the amorphous phrase, “recruiting ability?” In some ways, it lies in the eyes of the beholder.
To put some weight behind this discussion, Rock M reached out to several individuals who have seen Gates at work on the recruiting trail.