COLUMBIA, Mo. — Former Missouri men’s basketball players Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill and John Tonje all went unselected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
That all three are still on the board for the second round, which takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, is not especially surprising. For a time, Bates seemed like a potential first-round pick, but that was never a lock. The second round will air on ESPN.
He’ll be one of the better available players when that round begins. Draft analysts have highlighted Bates’ shooting efficiency and Division I-leading free-throw percentage, though some have suggested he’ll need to take more 3-pointers to stick in the pros as an offensive player.
Grill faces taller odds to be drafted. Teams like his 3-point shooting, but he is one of the oldest prospects in the class. He’s most likely to need to secure a roster spot by performing well at the NBA Summer League.
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Tonje, who was limited by injuries during Mizzou’s 2023-24 season before transferring to Wisconsin, is in a similar situation to Bates.
The last Mizzou player to be taken in the first round is still Kobe Brown, who went 30th overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023.
