Missouri lands commitment from 5-star forward Toni Bryant

Class of 2026 forward and five-star recruit Toni Bryant is committing to Missouri and head coach Dennis Gates, he told ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

Bryant, ranked 14th overall in the ESPN 100, is the second five-star prospect of the Tigers' 2026 recruitment class following Jason Crowe Jr.'s pledge in July. Crowe is the nation's top-ranked point guard and the No. 5 recruit overall.

A 6-foot-9 forward out of Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Bryant boasts impressive mobility for his size. While he excels at running the open floor, he can also slip behind defenders in the paint, where he combines a soft touch with strong inside positioning to open up plenty of above-the-rim opportunities. On the other end, his combination of size and quick reaction time allows him to alter opponent's shots even when recovering from out of position.

Bryant had offers from Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Illinois, according to ESPN. He cited Gates' influence throughout his recruitment as a key reason for selecting Missouri, whose last five-star recruit was Michael Porter Jr. in 2017.

"Loyalty and long-term relationships mattered most to me," Bryant said. "No head coach has recruited me longer than Coach Gates. Coach Gates sees me as a person, not just a player, and that relationship was built on genuine belief, not just transactions.

"Coach Gates isn't just a recruiter; he's a teacher and a developer. He's building professionals, and that's why I trust him with my future. Mizzou has a culture that's all about development and accountability, and that really stood out to me."

Gates, 45, took over the Tigers program in 2022 following three seasons at Cleveland State. In three years at Missouri, he's gone a combined 55-46 and taken the school to two NCAA Tournaments, matching the Tigers' number of March Madness appearances in the nine seasons prior to his arrival.