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Missouri lands Baylor transfer Deuce Bello

Deuce Bello, Bryce Cotton

Baylor’s Deuce Bello (14), right, and Providence’s Bryce Cotton (11), left, watch a loose ball during the first half of an NIT college basketball game in Waco, Texas, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte)

AP

Frank Haith has added yet another transfer to his program, as former Baylor wing Deuce Bello will finish up his playing career at Missouri.

The news was first reported by Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou.com.

“I have decided to play for Mizzou,” Bello told DeArmond. “We played them three times while I was at Baylor. I really like the way coach Haith’s teams play. They get up and down, they play defense well. I just really like the style of play.”

Bello was rated a top 50 prospect and a four-star recruit coming out of high school in North Carolina, but he was never able to break into Baylor’s rotation. Part of the reason for that is that at this point in his development, Bello is still nothing more than an athlete. He’s a sensational dunker and has the length to be a good perimeter defender, but his skill on the offensive end of the floor needs quite a bit of development.

The good news?

Bello will have to sit out a season, which means that he’ll have nothing to do other than spend the next 18 months working on developing his game. Become a better shooter. Improve his ball-handling. Understand how the game works on the offensive end of the floor. If Bello puts in the work, this redshirt season could be the best thing to happen to him in his career.

Bello will join Earnest Ross, Tony Criswell and Jordan Clarkson as the other transfers on Missouri’s roster. Alex Oriakhi and Keion Bell were transfers that graduated after last season.

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.