Two of Missouri Basketball’s biggest stars from last season’s 30-win campaign will begin their professional careers this summer in the National Basketball Association as Kim English (No. 44 to Detroit) and Marcus Denmon (No. 59 to San Antonio) were each selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft on Thursday.

It’s the first time since 1989 that two Tigers have gone in the same draft. Byron Irvin went No. 22 overall to Portland that year and Gary Leonard went No. 34 to Minnesota.

A native of Baltimore, Md., English is the 41st Tiger drafted all-time. He is coming off a spectacular season which saw him win Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, averaging 23.0 points in the three championship victories, while also shooting 78.8 percent (26-of-33) from the floor. A 6-foot-6 shooting guard that played in the paint last season due to a shorthanded bench, English averaged a career high 14.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting 52 percent from the floor and 46 percent from beyond the arc.

English is tied with his former teammate, Denmon, as the MU career record holder for games played (141) and he made 107 starts over his four seasons. In addition, he was a pivotal part of a senior class that won a school record 107 games since the 2008-09 season, including 31 victories in 2008-09 and 30 in 2011-12.

English finished his career ranked among Missouri’s all-time leaders in several statistical categories. He is No. 13 all-time in career scoring (1,570), No. 4 in three-point makes (239) and No. 3 in three-pointers attempted (606).

“I’m so happy for Kim and his family,” Head Coach Frank Haith said. “I said it earlier in the week, but I have never been around a better leader on the court and in the locker room than Kim English. He works so hard at his craft and he is always working to make himself and the teammates around him better. I also want to congratulate Detroit on the great draft selection. Obviously they are bringing in a great talent on the basketball court, but they are also bringing in someone with great character and the appropriate drive to succeed in this league.”

Named Second Team all-league by CBS Sports last season, English led the conference in three-point percentage (.459), ranked seventh in three-point makes (2.2), 10th in steals (1.3) and eighth overall in scoring (14.5). He topped double figures 26 times in 35 total games, including a career high 29 points in a win against Binghamton where he hit 7-of-10 treys. English also topped 20 points in wins against Oklahoma (23), Texas Tech (22), Texas A&M (21), at Texas Tech (20), Oklahoma State (27) and against Texas (23).

In addition to playing in the paint as a senior, English also contributed 56 assists and 45 steals. The 45 steals equaled a career high and his 4.2 rebounds per game last season were the highest of his career.

Denmon, drafted No. 59 by San Antonio, comes off a spectacular collegiate career where he finished his tenure as a Second Team All-American after averaging 17.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. The Kansas City, Mo., native ranked among the league’s Top 10 in seven different statistical categories last year, including scoring (No. 3), three-pointers (No. 2) and steals (No. 3) and he finished his Missouri tenure ranked among the school’s all-time greats for scoring and games played.

A product of Hogan Prep High School, Denmon scored 1,775 points (No. 5 in school history) over the course of four seasons. He also ranks among Mizzou’s career leaders in three-point makes (No. 2 – 283), steals (No. 5 – 178), free throw percentage (No. 6 – .800) and field goals made (No. 8 – 587). He is also tied with English as the school record holder for career games played (141).

Few players in college basketball were as consistent and explosive as Denmon last year. He reached double figures in scoring in 30-of-35 games, which included 12 20-point outbursts. He scored a career high 31 points in a win against Northwestern State and poured in 28 points at Madison Square Garden against Villanova, 29 in a home victory against Kansas and 28 at Kansas on 10-of-15 shooting.

“What an incredible moment for Marcus, his family and all of us here at Mizzou,” Haith said. “Marcus worked tremendously hard for this opportunity and San Antonio is getting a tough, gritty player to add to their roster. Marcus is a warrior. He plays so hard and does whatever it takes to win, and as a head coach, you can’t ask for anything more. You can’t have enough players like Marcus Denmon on your team.”

Denmon burst onto the national scene as a junior when he led the club with 16.9 points per game. He shot 50 percent from the floor and led the club with 82 treys and 45 percent shooting from bonus distance. Over his last two seasons Denmon hit 181 three-point field goals, connecting on 42.5 percent of his treys during that remarkable 69-game stretch.

Denmon joins his uncle, Martinez Denmon, as NBA draftees. The elder Denmon was drafted out of Iowa State in 1973 by the Boston Celtics. He was selected in the third round (No. 52 overall).

— MU Sports Information —

The University of Missouri is just five days away from officially joining the Southeastern Conference – but Mizzou Athletics isn’t waiting for July 1st to show the nation it is eager to compete in the league that is known widely as the nation’s best.  As announced today, a $30 million private gift from the Kansas City Sports Trust will help jump-start a $200 million master plan resulting in facility improvements seen as vital to MU’s future success in the SEC.

The gift has been identified as the second-largest single donation in University of Missouri history, and it will play an integral role in getting a $200 million facilities master plan off and running.  The comprehensive plan, which will change the landscape of the MU Sports Park for years to come, was reviewed and approved this afternoon by the MU Board of Curators.

The initial focus will be on projects totaling an estimated $102 million, and facilities involved will include football’s Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, baseball’s Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field, softball’s University Field, and tennis’ Mizzou Tennis Complex, as well as new team and practice facilities for the men’s and women’s golf teams at The Club at Old Hawthorne.  A new indoor football practice facility, an additional weight room to better support MU’s 500-plus student-athlete population, and other Olympic sport facility upgrades will also be part of future plans.

A capital campaign is underway to help raise funds for the master plan.  Called “Going for Gold: A Vision for Excellence,” the campaign will encourage donors and supporters to join the action and help Mizzou achieve its facilities vision.  Information will be forthcoming shortly detailing how people can get involved in the Going for Gold campaign through the Tiger Scholarship Fund.

“This is indeed an historic day for the University,” said MU Chancellor Dr. Brady J. Deaton.  “What a poignant and symbolic showing of the support we have as we move into the Southeastern Conference.   I’ve said many times that Athletics is the front porch of the institution, and that a strong program benefits Mizzou immeasurably.  These planned facility projects will go a long way toward helping guide the future success of our program which is already very strong, and they will help us attract the very best and brightest student-athletes in the nation,” he said.

“We are so very grateful to the Kansas City Sports Trust for their unwavering support of our mission,” said MU Director of Athletics Mike Alden.  “This historic gift is putting into motion a series of improvements that will impact Mizzou Athletics for generations to come.  We are moving into the nation’s best and most competitive conference, and by committing to this master plan, we feel this is a statement that Mizzou is going to be a factor on the conference and national levels,” he said.

— MU Sports Information —

Missouri has unveiled its long-promised plans to upgrade athletic facilities as it moves to the Southeastern Conference.

An athletics master plan released by the school on Monday calls for adding at least 6,000 seats at Memorial Stadium, which currently has a capacity of 71,004. The expansion would consist of 5,200 bleacher seats on the stadium’s east side and 800 to 900 premium seats, along with new restrooms, lounges and concession stands.

Even with the addition, Missouri would still rank ninth in stadium size among the 14 SEC schools. Eight of those schools have stadiums that hold at least 80,000, with Bryant-Denny Stadium at Alabama and Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium topping 100,000.

Missouri also wants to add more enclosed luxury suites on the stadium’s west side and expand a concourse at the stadium’s north entrance that would provide room for another possible seating increase in the future.

The school is also seeking to improve its tennis and golf facilities as well as its softball and baseball stadiums. The projects would cost $72 million in 30-year debt financing through revenue bonds, although a plan summary suggests Missouri would recoup its entire investment through the sale of additional premium seats and luxury boxes.

Missouri athletic director Mike Alden will present the proposal to university curators on Tuesday afternoon, with a vote expected Wednesday morning. He declined an Associated Press interview request Monday through a school spokesman.

Immediately after Tuesday’s curators’ session, Alden plans to announce what’s described as a “major private gift” to Missouri athletics. He has consistently spoken of the need for donors to “step up” from the moment Missouri’s move to the SEC from the Big 12

Conference was announced in November 2011.

Missouri ranks near the bottom of its new conference in terms of annual expenses on athletics, as well as athletics revenue and recruiting budgets.

The plan summary provided to curators suggests that the increased investment on athletics is also an SEC expectation.

“With the move to the Southeastern Conference, this planning effort evaluated all facilities and identified those requiring immediate attention to accommodate the expectations of the new conference home,” the master plan reads.

The timing of the debt financing request could prove awkward for the seven curators, who are political appointees selected by the governor and approved by Missouri legislators.

Supporters of the University of Missouri Press — which is slated to shut down this week after administrators said they can no longer afford the publishing house’s $400,000 annual subsidy — plan to protest the budget cut at the curators’ meeting on the Columbia campus.

They have criticized the move by new Missouri system president Tim Wolfe and compared the relatively modest budget cut to the millions spent on football and men’s basketball, although academic funds are separate from athletic budgets.

While the bulk of the proposed stadium expansion would come be paid for through revenue bonds, the plan also calls for the use of $500,000 from a campus facilities reserve fund that covers utility infrastructure improvements.

— Associated Press —

The Mizzou baseball team, on the heels of its first ever Big 12 Tournament title over the weekend, will head to the NCAA Tournament Tucson Regional this weekend. The NCAA Regional appearance for Mizzou is its eighth in the last 10 seasons under head coach Tim Jamieson, who is now in his 18th year at the helm of the program. Action at the Regional will begin Friday and run through Monday (if necessary). The Tigers earned the fourth seed in the four-team regional.

Joining the fourth-seeded Tigers in the Tucson Regional is top-seeded Arizona as the Tigers will play the Wildcats in the first round on Friday night at 10 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU. BIG EAST foe Louisville earned the No. 2 seed while New Mexico State earned the No. 3 seed in the bracket. Mizzou of course met second-seeded Louisville back in 2007 when the Tigers hosted the NCAA Regional round in Columbia.

The NCAA Regional appearance for the Tigers is their eighth in the last 10 seasons and their first since 2009.

— MU Sports Information —

Missouri back-up quarterback Corbin Berkstresser has been arrested after reportedly leaving the scene of an early-morning car accident.

Columbia police say Berkstresser hit a parked car in an off-campus neighborhood early Tuesday but failed to stop. He was arrested several hours later and released on bail after posting a $4,500 bond. No injuries were reported.

Leaving an accident scene is typically a misdemeanor offense in Missouri but Berkstresser could face a felony charge because property damage to the other car exceeded $1,000.

The redshirt freshman backs up starting quarterback James Franklin. He worked with the first team for most of spring practice after Franklin injured his shoulder. Franklin is expected back by the fall.

— Associated Press —

University of Missouri Head Men’s Basketball Coach Frank Haith announced today that he has added Ryan Miller to his staff as assistant coach.  Miller joins the Mizzou coaching staff after serving the last five years as an assistant coach at New Mexico, where the Lobos went 126-46 overall – marking the school’s most successful five-year span in history.

With the Lobos, Miller handled all aspects of coaching, and one of his main responsibilities was advance scouting and game preparation. Miller’s in-depth scouting reports and use of technology enhanced UNM’s reputation as one of the most prepared teams in the nation.  Miller’s scouting and pre-game prep helped the Lobos to 38 road wins over the last five years, including a school-record 14 wins away from home in 2011-12.

Along with in-game coaching and scouting, Miller worked with UNM’s guards, and is also considered one of the top recruiters in the nation. Miller’s contacts range throughout the United States, to foreign countries such as Australia, where he once played.

Miller was a basketball operations assistant at Memphis under head coach John Calipari from 2004-06. During his three years at Memphis, the Tigers compiled a 78-28 (.736) record and made three postseason tournament appearances, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re very fortunate to have someone of Ryan’s caliber join our program,” said Haith.  “I think he’s the total package, he’s an outstanding, proven recruiter, and an outstanding coach who is a great teacher and skill development guy. He’s certainly got an impressive pedigree, just look at what he’s been part of at New Mexico under Coach (Steve) Alford, and Coach (John) Calipari at Kentucky.  He’s played professionally, so he has that experience to draw on, and he has a lot of important contacts in this part of the country from a recruiting perspective.  Ryan will be a great addition to our staff,” he said.

“I’m excited to have this kind of opportunity to work for a university like Missouri,” said Miller. “Coach Haith is obviously a great coach, and I’m grateful to him, and to Mike Alden and his administration for asking me to be a part of it.  I’m looking forward to continuing to help build Mizzou’s program on and off the court, and be part of the transition into the SEC,” he said.

In December of 2002, Miller was named head coach of the Dakota Lightning Boltz of the Midwest Professional Basketball League. In his only season as head coach, Miller led the Boltz to a 14-5 record and a league title.  He spent one year as an assistant coach at Pepperdine before joining the New Mexico staff prior to the 2007-08 season.

A native of Mitchell, S.D., Miller attended Northern State University, in Aberdeen, S.D., where he was a two-time Northern Sun all-conference and all-academic selection. He finished his career eighth on Northern State’s all-time scoring list after guiding his teams to four straight conference championships and the 1998 regional title. Miller was a Division II All-American following the 1997-1998 season. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in physical education.

Following his collegiate playing career in 1999, Miller was drafted into the CBA. His professional career included playing for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez of the International Basketball Association (IBA) in 1999. He also played for the Dakota Gold of the IBA where he served as a player/assistant coach during the 2000-01 season.

Miller also played two summers in Melbourne, Australia (2000 and 2001) where helped his team to a league championship and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Miller attended Mitchell Senior High in Mitchell, S.D., where he was a two-time all-state performer, leading Mitchell to the 1994 state championship. His brother, Mike, currently plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA.

— MU Sports Information —

Tim Fuller has been promoted to associate head coach for the University of Missouri men’s basketball program, as announced today by Head Coach Frank Haith.  Fuller earned the promotion after being an integral part of one of the most successful seasons in Mizzou Basketball history, as the Tigers amassed a 30-5 record in 2011-12, and earned a number two seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Tournament championship.

Fuller, a native of Woodbridge, Va., and a Wake Forest alumnus, was one of Haith’s first hires at Mizzou after taking over as the 17th head coach in Tiger Basketball history.  Haith said that elevating Fuller to associate head coach was a natural fit for the program.

“Tim was such a vital part of our success this past year, he absolutely impacted all facets of our program in a positive way,” said Haith.  “He’s a terrific recruiter – I think that’s been proven in his short time here – and he’s an outstanding coach and more importantly he’s the kind of man you want developing and shaping young men.  The work he did with our guys on the court this past season with their skill development, as well as his scouting and game prep work was top-notch.  We want to be able to keep him here a long time,” he said.

Fuller, who was the lead recruiter for incoming Tigers Stefan Jankovic, Negus Webster-Chan and Alex Oriakhi, as well as transfers Earnest Ross, Keion Bell and Jabari Brown, is appreciative of the chance to further entrench himself at Mizzou.

“I am very grateful to Coach Haith and to our Athletic Director Mike Alden for their faith in me and what I can bring to the program,” Fuller said.  “I genuinely love the opportunity to be here at Mizzou.  This is a special place filled with passionate basketball people.  I am thankful to work with a great support staff and elite student-athletes who are outstanding citizens in the community, diligent workers in the classroom, and competitive warriors on the hardwood.   I look forward to bringing in high-level talent and working hard with our great staff to compete for championships and achieve new levels of success,” he said.

— MU Sports Information —