Hutchinson forward commits to Mizzou

After starting his tenure with a pair of 2013 commitments, Missouri coach Frank Haith is now working backward. Haith picked up his first 2012 commitment on Friday in Hutchinson (KS) Community College forward Quantel Denson.

"They've been talking to me for about a month," Denson said. "They didn't need to give me that much. Coach Chew came up here, let me know what was going on with the program and I committed this morning."

Denson is a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward. He said he hopes to get to 235 to play at the Division One level.

"The coaches like that I'm a big guy that runs the floor, I've got the inside out game going, my handles are up to par," Denson said. "I'm not totally complete yet, but I've got a year to work on things."

Denson will participate in Jerry Mullens' Juco Top 100 camp at Lindenwood University in July. JucoJunction analyst Bret Swanson says he is a prospect likely to be solidly inside the nation's top 50 junior college players for the class.

"He's not a nice drop step in the paint, real good skill level. He can face up but he can also play with his back to the basket. He can step out and shoot the ball even from three-point range. That's a very good get, especially early," Swanson said. "His numbers don't look gaudy by any mean, but I think he'll be more of a go-to guy now as a sophomore."

Denson had other Division One schools in pursuit of him, but says he doesn't even want to discuss them at this point.

"I'd rather not bring them up. I'm done," Denson said. "I just want to try to win something and come to Mizzou with a ring on my finger."

Denson will visit Missouri unofficially on June 5th.