The Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team will head into the upcoming season with continuity in the frontcourt, as Trent Burns has decided to remain with the program.
The redshirt freshman center, who stands at 7-foot-5, is set to continue in Columbia for his second year of eligibility after overcoming early injury setbacks. Burns dealt with a lingering foot issue that limited his availability during his initial year, ultimately leading to a redshirt season and surgery before returning to action.
Once healthy, he gradually worked his way into the rotation and became the team’s primary backup big man behind Shawn Phillips Jr.. Toward the end of the season, Burns saw increased playing time, logging over 10 minutes in nearly all of the Tigers’ final stretch of games.
While his averages—2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game—were modest, his defensive presence stood out and provided value off the bench.
His return offers head coach Dennis Gates added stability in the paint as Missouri prepares for the 2026–27 season. With Phillips graduating, the Tigers will still need to strengthen depth at the center position.
Currently, the only other true center on the roster is Nicholas Randall, who appeared in 22 games as a freshman but played limited minutes.
Burns is also among a small group of confirmed returners, joining Trent Pierce. Meanwhile, the team is expected to undergo changes, with guards Anthony Robinson II and Sebastian Mack already signaling their intentions to leave.
With the transfer portal open, Missouri’s coaching staff will now focus on reshaping the roster to complement its incoming recruiting class while building around its returning core.
