Pressey talks about being a Tiger

Nobody covers Tiger recruiting like PowerMizzou.com. To get your free trial membership going today, just click right here.

The Missouri Tigers have been recruiting Phil Pressey for about two years now. On Sunday morning, all that time paid off as the Class of 2010's No. 54 prospect gave the Tiger coaches his verbal commitment during an official visit.

Pressey had previously said he wanted to take all five of his visits, but needed just one to make his choice.

"After I played with the guys and saw the campus and the football game and interacted with all the players, I thought Missouri was the place," said the four-star guard. "I pretty much knew where I wanted to go. With the family atmosphere and knowing I had a chance to play right away, I just felt like there was no point in taking any other visits."

In playing for Mike Anderson, Pressey will continue a nearly lifelong relationship. Anderson was college roommates with Phil's father, Paul, when both played at the University of Tulsa. While the relationship wasn't the deciding factor, Pressey said it played a part.

"It kind of did because I knew that he would look out for my best interests on and off the court," Pressey said. "He told me I was his number one priority."

Anderson has been following Pressey nearly since he took the Missouri job in 2006.

"Most of the other schools either just kind of popped up lately or started recruiting me and didn't keep up with it," he said. "But Missouri, they were there the whole time."

That Pressey knows Anderson helped. That he knows what Anderson's system will require of him should pay dividends when he hits campus.

"My conditioning," Pressey said when asked what he wants to work on over the next few months. "I'm gonna have to be in shape to play."

Nobody covers Tiger recruiting like PowerMizzou.com. To get your free trial membership going today, just click right here.