Aidan Shaw, top-50 2022 basketball prospect, recommits to Missouri Tigers

Following Cuonzo Martin's termination, Aidan Shaw asked for his release, but is re-upping his recruitment under coach Dennis Gates

Consensus four-star small forward Aidan Shaw was the top-rated signee in the past five years for the Missouri Tigers men’s basketball program when he initially put pen to paper in November.

So when the 6-foot-8, 180-pound wing, out of Blue Valley High School (Stilwell, Kansas), asked for and was granted his release last month in the wake of the firing of head coach Cuonzo Martin, it was potentially devastating for the Tigers.

However, following a recruiting reset, as well as significant interest from across the country, Shaw announced his re-commitment to Missouri and new head coach Dennis Gates on Wednesday.

“I’m recommitting to Mizzou,” he said. “Coach Gates has made me a priority since Day 1. I was going to on visits elsewhere, but after coach came to my house he got my full attention.”

It’s time ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/NabEahHo2k

— Aidan Shaw (@TheAidanShaw) April 6, 2022

Rated the nation’s No. 50 overall prospect, Shaw said he prioritized programs whose head coaches reached out upon re-opening his recruitment.

Immediately, Gates made it known he was a massive key to the future of Missouri basketball.

Already enamored with the program, Shaw said he was relieved that he clicked so seamlessly with the new staff — and that he was a need in their system,

“I was hearing from lots of schools but my immediate separation came from looking at what is needed position-wise,” he said. “I’m pretty happy they (prioritized me), as I opened the door for anybody and was going to make the decision solely on what head coaches have reached out since you play for them.”

Despite being rated as the nation’s No. 14 small forward on 247Sports and the nation’s No. 9 power forward on ESPN, the Kansas product hasn’t prioritized personal goals or dreams of an NBA career.

Instead, his immediate focus is turning the Tigers into an SEC contender.

“I want to win,” Shaw said. “I want to make a mark at a school no doubt. I want to go all the way with my team and I know I’m going to be around guys that feel the same way.”

Given his talent, Shaw could do just that.

According to ESPN’s Adam Finkelstein, the new Missouri pledge has both instant impact potential and a bright future.

“Shaw has a combination of length, athleticism and developing skill that show allow him to be immediately impactful at Mizzou, but also still be a prospect who could take his game to new levels in the future,” he wrote. 

Shaw committed to Missouri over initial scholarship offers from Arkansas, Creighton, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Texas, USC and several others.