Expect a lot of boos when Missouri and Kansas match up at the T-Mobile Center next fall. In a surprising development over the last week, Jayhawks forward Bryson Tiller, a top-40 portal recruit, has crossed enemy lines, committing to Dennis Gates and the Tigers. Tiller joins Parker Braun (Mizzou 2019-21, Kansas 2023-24) as the second-ever player on both sides of the Border War.
Tiller was a highly recruited five-star in the class of 2025, but reclassified up to the class of ‘24 to join KU early. He redshirted in 2024-25, and became a key piece of the Jayhawks’ rotation this past season. Tiller chose Mizzou over some high-level competition, as the big man had competing offers from Michigan, Arizona, Miami, and others. Tiller visited Miami first, then came to Columbia this past weekend. He also had a visit lined up with Arizona this week, but canceled it before making his decision.
Not surprisingly, Tiller was recruited by Dennis Gates out of high school, first garnering attention when Gates was at Cleveland State. Tiller played high school ball at Overtime Elite in Atlanta, where current Mizzou basketball GM Tim Fuller was formerly VP of recruitment and player personnel. With Tiller’s commitment, Mizzou now has the top-ranked 2026 recruiting class nationally, taking into consideration both high school and transfer commitments.
Needless to say, this is a major acquisition for the program. At 6’11, 240 pounds, Tiller is a stretch big who is capable of playing both inside and outside. His strength is on the defensive end, where he racked up 6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in his standout redshirt-freshman year. Combined with the rebounding prowess of fellow transfer commit Jaylen Carey and the height/reach combo of returner Trent Burns, the glass looks to be well protected for the Tigers next year.
On the offensive side, Tiller is still developing, but showed flashes of brilliance as a screener and working off the ball. His best trait is his IQ and movement, as he has an uncanny ability to find the open space in a defense and exploit it. Bill Self often had him work from the corners, cutting on the baseline or screening on the wings. In the post department, Tiller has a very strong mid-range game, often cashing in on post fades or facing up opponents to drive. He shot 14-52 from behind the arc on the year; while not eye-popping, he has a solid jumper that will certainly help to draw out defenses.
Tiller projects as a true power forward, not heavily reliant on his inside game, but capable of going to work in the paint. However, it would not surprise me to see Tiller start at the five given his size, and with Toni Bryant, Trent Pierce and Jaylen Carey already expected to get minutes at the four, this would make sense for the roster.
Looking further ahead in the transfer portal, Gates will still need to pursue a few guards, and hopefully bring in a bit of outside shooting, which was a struggle at times last season. The likely candidates here are sharpshooting Arkansas State transfer Christian Harmon and high-scoring Montana combo guard Money Williams, though there are plenty of other names potentially in the mix.
Overall, this recruiting class is turning eyes towards Mizzou as a true center of player development. There is real NBA Draft hype around the likes of Jason Crowe Jr., Toni Bryant, and portal acquisitions Jamier Jones and Bryson Tiller. Dennis Gates’ value as a recruiter has never been doubted; now, can he turn this elite roster into a true contender?