Mizzou Tigers land new men’s basketball commit. He’s a post player who can hit 3s
Dennis Gates was hard at work over the weekend, and his work brought in Missouri basketball’s fifth transfer this offseason.
That transfer finally fills the need for a post-player.
Campbell transfer and 6-foot-8 forward Jesus Carralero committed to Missouri Sunday afternoon, according to 247Sports. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Fighting Camels during the 2022-2023 season, though he only played in five games due to a wrist injury.
As a full-time starter in the 2021-2022 season, Carralero finished in the top 10 of the Big South Conference in four categories: rebounds, steals, assists and blocks.
Carralero attended Link Year Academy in Branson and played for the Lions in the 2018-2019 season. He’s a native of Málaga, Spain.
Carralero is the fifth transfer MU has taken on this offseason.
Colorado State transfer John Tonje was the first transfer to commit in the offseason. Iowa State transfer Caleb Grill and Indiana transfer Tamar Bates followed in April. John A. Lewis combo guard Curt Lewis committed to MU during the season.
Each fills different roles Missouri had open after losing D’Moi Hodge, Tre Gomillion and DeAndre Gholston, all starters who elevated Missouri with their specific play styles.
Gates has remade Missouri’s roster this offseason. What the starting five will be, however, remains to be seen, especially after the likes of Mohamed Diarra, Ronnie DeGray and Kaleb Brown entered the transfer portal .
What Carralero’s commitment means for Mizzou basketball
Carralero’s arrival means that Missouri’s frontcourt gets deeper, which was a much-needed development after Diarra and DeGray transferred out of MU while Kobe Brown’s NBA Draft decision still lingers.
Carralero’s season at Campbell last year might have been cut short, but he was impressive in the five games he played.
In five games, Carralero made at least one three-pointer, scored in double figures three times and had his best game against NC State, showing he can compete with Power 5 competition.
In Campbell’s 73-67 loss to the Wolfpack, Carralero scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists in 31 minutes of play.
Carralero also made six three-points on 11 attempts in five games and was on pace to make 37 three-pointers with an average of about three three-point attempts per game. With the liberty Gates allows in his offense for bigs to shoot from the perimeter, there seems to be a natural fit between Gates and Carralero.
Carralero’s presence also adds a new dynamic to MU’s roster. Tonje is a guard who brings rebounding in the mid-range or perimeter, Lewis is a three-point sniper, Bates is a multi-level scorer and Grill can shoot from anywhere on the court. Campbell’s ability to work in the post complements those abilities, along with what the returning players like Nick Honor, Aidan Shaw, Noah Carter and Sean East bring.
Whether Carralero figures into MU’s starting five remains to be seen, but he offers Missouri a post player that can shoot from the perimeter, stretch the floor and pass well. Even in a role off the bench, that can be a boon for Gates and his staff.
Now, the staff has three more pieces of the offseason to tie up: Brown’s decision on his NBA future, Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland’s decision (Cleveland is down to Missouri, Auburn and Miami) and Isiaih Mosley’s status with the team.
Gates comments on Caleb Grill addition
With Grill’s addition to the Tigers men’s basketball team made official, Gates was able to issue a comment on the new MU guard.
“Caleb is a veteran winner who has big-game experience during his college career. ... His production speaks for itself and his perimeter scoring will elevate our offense. He epitomizes our eight core values and we have no doubt that his winning experience will be a welcome addition to our program.”
The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics.
