Missouri basketball expects Caleb Grill, John Tonje to be granted medical redshirts

Add two likely returners to Missouri basketball’s roster next season.

During a Zoom call with local media Friday afternoon, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates said the team started the paperwork to apply for medical redshirts for both Caleb Grill and John Tonje after last season ended. The coach, who is entering his third season with the Tigers, said he does not expect there to be any complications in that process.

“The most important thing with their medical history,” Gates said, “is that they didn't pass, or surpass, the game threshold to get the waiver. There should be no issues.”

Grill, an Iowa State transfer, went down with a wrist injury during Missouri’s win over Wichita State on Dec. 3. He was ruled out of the Tigers’ trip to Allen Fieldhouse to face Kansas the following weekend shortly before the Border War began. The original assessment was that he would return to play in 5-7 weeks.

Later in the season, as the Tigers fell to 18 straight Southeastern Conference losses and bowed out in the first round of the conference tournament, Gates said Grill faced complications during the recovery process, ruling him out for the remainder of the year.

Grill was the Tigers’ top rebounder in his nine appearances last season, averaging 5.8 per game. He recorded MU’s lone double-double of the regular season in the game against Wichita State.

Tonje, a Colorado State transfer, played sparingly through the nonconference schedule, but was never given an official injury designation by the team although reportedly dealing with a foot injury. He played his final game of the season Jan. 13 in MU’s overtime loss to South Carolina. He scored more than 1,000 points over four seasons at Colorado State, but featured in just eight games for MU last season.

Both Grill and Tonje, should their applications for a medical redshirt be approved, would be entering their final year of eligibility.

“There shouldn't be any hiccups because we have taken the measures,” Gates said, “meaning with our compliance, but also with our trainers and doctors, to document what was needed to be documented in a way that helps with integrity to make sure that these guys are protected in a certain way. So, there shouldn't be any issues with them getting extra years.”

Three Missouri players have entered the transfer portal or committed to a new team: Jesus Carralero Martin; Curt Lewis; and Mabor Majak, who will play for Coastal Carolina next season.

Four more Tigers are out of eligibility: Sean East II; Noah Carter; Nick Honor; and Connor Vanover.

Missouri’s lone portal acquisition during this transfer window, which remains open for players to enter until May 1, is UT Martin wing Jacob Crews, who shot 41.4% from 3 on 215 attempts and 48.5% from the field for the Skyhawks last season.

More: Missouri basketball transfer portal tracker: Who is joining, leaving Tigers?

Mizzou has the No. 4 recruiting class in the country, with five incoming freshman set to join the team in the summer. Little Rock, Arkansas, product Annor Boateng will play in the Nike Hoop Summit for the international team, representing Ghana, on Saturday evening in Portland, Oregon. The game will air live on FS1, with first tip scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT.

Gates said the Tigers’ roster will be officially settled Sept. 1, when the team knows who is enrolled and on campus. The Missouri coach said he didn’t know if any more Mizzou players will enter the portal.

But he did offer some insight into where they’re looking to add to the roster.

“The other pieces of the puzzle that we have to attack is obviously sort of point guard play when we look at Nick Honor, Sean East's departure,” Gates said. “The other part, I think, is more of a combo guard, meaning guys that can really get it off the bounce and score. You look at our size, meaning big wings, guys that can, with the athleticism, be two-way guys, but also be guys that played at a high level, but also the hybrid forward spot, with more perimeter orientation and things like that.

“And then: low post play. We still need to throw that ball to a veteran, back to the basket. And I (have) hopes to continue to build on that. Now, you never get every single piece that you want. You never get that. But if we can get 85% of the stuff that I just explained to you, I really do think we'll have a great team next year.”

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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball expects Caleb Grill, John Tonje to get medical redshirts