New name on Tigers radar

Ryan Miller has only been apart of the Tiger basketball coaching staff for a short time, but his hire has already led to new names on the Mizzou recruiting trail. Miller has used connections through his brothers AAU team, M33M, to establish relationships with Robert Hubbs and Austin Nichols. Now another name has emerged.

Zach Hanson, a 6-foot-9 PF from Pierre, South Dakota, has been on Miller's radar since the coaches time at New Mexico. The Lobos, along with Nebraska, Gonzaga, Creighton, Arizona St., and a few other smaller schools, have offered the 2013 target. Now Mizzou is starting to express interest.

"I hadn't heard from Missouri before Coach Miller got hired," Hanson said. "I actually talked to Coach Miller when he was at New Mexico, but I hadn't talked to anybody from Missouri until recently."

Hanson admitted to not knowing a great deal about Missouri, but Miller is trying to get him to come down to Columbia to change that. Hanson's full summer of camps and AAU tournaments has made the scheduling of the visit somewhat difficult though.

"I know they are switching conferences and going to the SEC," said Hanson. "I watched some games, but I don't really know a lot about the university itself. They had a really good basketball team last year I know. They've mentioned having me come down for a visit, but we haven't really planned anything yet."

Right now Hanson does not have any leaders in his recruitment. He plans on finishing his busy summer and then narrowing down his list, if possible. That means he will be looking to make visits once school starts back up.

"I think I'd like to have my decision made by the fall, but it is not like I have to get it done by then or anything. I think I'd just like to have it out of the way for my senior season," Hanson said.

When it comes time to make the decision Hanson knows what he is looking for in a school. The hard part is just picking which one fits the best.

"Just liking the coaching staff and liking the university and the town," said Hanson. "I definitely want to go somewhere where they have a great fan base. Wherever I go I just want to know that I've made the right choice."

After the choice is made one lucky school will be adding a talented player with one attribute that cannot be taught. Size.

"I'm a big guy that can use my athletic ability," Hanson said. "I can run the floor well, I can jump well, and I can also score. In high school I'm usually scoring mostly inside, but I can also score outside occasionally."

PowerMizzou.com will continue to monitor Hanson's recruitment as we cover the 2013 hoops recruiting class. Check back for all the updates.

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