Written by Issac Nobles

With the 2026-2027 NCAA basketball season less than a month away, Dennis Gates and his staff are gearing up to build on last year’s success after another NCAA tournament appearance. For the Missouri fanbase, there is a lot to be excited about going into this year, and rightfully so. The Tigers have brought in nine new faces into the program, with six being transfers and three being high school recruits. With so many new additions to the team, the burning question remains: who will some of the key players for the Tigers be?

Jason Crowe:

When you think of newcomers to the team, the first person that comes to mind is Jason Crowe, and for good reason. The resume speaks for itself; he was the number one point guard in the class of 2026, a McDonald’s All-American, California basketball’s all-time leading scorer at the high school level, and he averaged 42 points per game his senior year. Gates has already announced that Jason Crowe will be in the starting lineup for the upcoming season, so Tiger fans won’t have to wait long to see him in a big-time role. He has humongous expectations coming into this season, and Dennis Gates will look to the freshman to initiate the offense, whether it be creating his own shots or setting the table for others. Throughout the season, Crowe will be the deciding factor in how good this offense can and will be.

Bryson Tiller:

Bryson Tiller comes in as one of the six transfers that were acquired this offseason by Dennis Gates from the University of Kansas. I would be willing to bet you haven’t heard that much. Tiller comes in with the chance to make a huge impact for the Tigers on both the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. Tiller is 6’11” and moves well for his size, so look for him to play not only power forward, but also the five. Tiller’s jumper isn’t the most reliable; he shot just 27% from three last season, so most of his points will come from cutting and passes in the dunker spot. However, his improved shooting was on full display at pro day last week. When it comes to the defensive side of the floor, his length and athleticism are going to be on full display, erasing and contesting shots on the backline for the Missouri defense. Dennis Gates will have plenty of opportunities to move Tiller around at both the center and power forward positions, so look for the big to be a staple in this Missouri rotation.

Jamier Jones:

As one of the six incoming transfers this year, Jones was another huge pickup for the Tigers this offseason. Jones comes by way of Providence, where he averaged 11.9 points per game and played primarily as a slasher. When it comes to Jamier Jones, he is one of the most versatile players on the Tigers roster. Jones is primarily a three, but the 6’7 wing has all the athleticism and size to play up to three different positions. With his 225-pound frame, there shouldn’t be much surprise if Gates throws him in at the small-ball four position. Jones can also play the two-guard spot if he is summoned to do so. Jones will get a lot of his buckets from cutting actions and getting downhill; along with that, look for Jones to lead the team in points in transition, as he loves to run the floor. He can hold his own defensively and has proven to be a very switchable defender who can guard the one through four spots. Look for Jamier Jones to be a Swiss Army knife for the Tigers and be one of their most valuable players.

Honourable Mention:

Mark Mitchell:

With Mark Mitchell going through eligibility issues, there is no telling how many games he will end up playing. Depending on how much time he gets can greatly impact the Tigers. The 6’9 forward has the versatility to play both the four and five positions and give the Tigers a huge scoring boost. Mitchell was able to average 18 points per game last season, so him coming back could take some stress off Jason Crowe and the rest of the offense. Mitchell would also help out the forward and center rotations and allow for more athletic and quicker lineups to match up with different teams. Dennis Gates and his team are well equipped to go through this season without Mitchell, but if he is able to play a big chunk of the season and get a rhythm, it can no question raise the ceiling for this team.