By james art Mizzou remains in the headlines just a week into the season, adding major talent to its 25-year-old recruiting class. Nicholas “Buta” Randall has the potential to be a key rotation piece early in his college career, with scouts predicting a quick rise to a star.
Randall visited campus last summer, impressing Tigers officials who quickly offered him an offer. Last week, he made it official by announcing his commitment to Mizzou.
The 6-foot-10 forward is a natural defender, excelling both in the paint and, impressively, around the arc.
After leading Vashon to its fifth straight high school championship, Randall was named the Class 4 Player of the Year and earned All-Metro Area honors.
After that run, Randall transferred to AZ Compass Prep in July for his senior year. He previously lived in the heart of St. Louis and attended Vashon High School.
Randall scored in double figures in 21 of the 32 games he played last year, maintaining impressive efficiency from the field. He attempted a few threes in a few contests and as the season progressed his accuracy improved, showing that his dedication to the game is paying off. Defensively, he averaged 1.5 blocks per game while adding nearly 8 rebounds.
His game has only improved over time and he has been described as very coachable, demonstrating a willingness to learn and expand his skill set. If Tigers head coach Dennis Gates can help develop his playmaking and scoring abilities, the future looks extremely bright for the nearly seven-footer.
Randall chose Mizzou over Creighton, Illinois and several others. The push for a youth movement in Columbia remains consistent as this marks the Tigers’ second four-star commitment, with Randall joining point guard Aaron Rowe next season.