The Missouri Tigers are trending to have one of the best 2026 recruiting classes in the nation after Dennis Gates and his Tigers earned a 5-star Toni Bryant commitment Monday morning, per Rivals Joe Tipton.
The 5-star recruit was one of the top-ranked recruits in the nation, as he was ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation and is regarded as a 5-star on multiple recruiting platforms. Bryant was recruited by elite programs such as Louisville basketball, North Carolina, and Kansas, but the Tigers were able to swipe him away from these elite schools.
NEWS: 2026 Top-20 recruit Toni Bryant has committed to Missouri, source told @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 8, 2025
The 6-10 power forward chose the Tigers over North Carolina, NC State, Arizona, and others. https://t.co/xJUZoiiUqm pic.twitter.com/wBfngeosgd
Louisville basketball loses another 5-star recruit to Missouri
The Louisville Cardinals extended their offer to Bryant last summer in July 2024, and never received a visit. However, his commitment to Missouri over Kansas comes as a shock, as On3 Sports gave the Jayhawks the best odds after their recent official visit.
Bryant will now join 5-star combo guard and the No. 3-ranked player in the class, Jason Crowe Jr. The Tigers are dominating early for the 2026 recruiting class as they now hold the best recruiting class in the nation.
Louisville and Pat Kelsey have yet to earn a commitment in the 2026 class, but are trending with many 5-stars themselves. The Cardinals are all-in on the two Kentucky natives, Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney, but have yet to receive a commitment.
If Louisville wants to compete with Missouri for the best recruiting class in the nation, Stokes and Kinney's commitments will be essential. The Cardinals weren't high up on Crowe or Bryant's lists, but they did extend offers to the two 5-stars.
Related: 3 absolute long-shot 2026 5-star targets for Louisville Basketball
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.