Missouri Accepts Commitment from PG Mark Smith, Boosting OSU’s Chances With Courtney Ramey

Oklahoma State’s chances to land 2018 point guard prospect Courtney Ramey improved drastically on Saturday after Missouri — considered one of the top contenders to land him — accepted a commitment from Illinois transfer point guard Mark Smith.

Although the Missouri commitment from Smith, a former four-star himself, doesn’t fill up Mizzou’s roster, it does complicate Cuonzo Martin’s recruitment of Ramey. According to The Kansas City Star, Ramey isn’t interested in being on the same team as Smith in college; furthermore, Smith is expected to wear number 13 as a Tiger … which happens to be Ramey’s number.

Missouri’s decision to take Smith likely means that the Tigers are out with four-star St. Louis point guard Courtney Ramey. A source close to the situation told the Star that Ramey, who also played for Jets-Ramey United, will not play at the same program as Smith. A source close to Missouri told The Star that the Tigers will still take Ramey, should he want to commit.

Illinois and Louisville have taken themselves off the board for Ramey of late, too, after either accepting commitments from other players at the same position or going in a different direction. But Missouri’s curveball could be the tide turn Oklahoma State’s staff has been waiting on.

With the Tigers off the board, OSU, which I firmly believe is now the frontrunner, must stave off last ditch efforts from Texas, SMU, Ohio State and Oregon, all of which are still vying for his services.

At the rate in which Ramey’s process has suddenly burst into action, I’d expect a decision by the end of the current signing period, which ends May 16.