12-07-2025
Kellie Harper lands first high school commitment of Missouri women's basketball tenure
Kellie Harper is on the board in the high school recruiting game.
Missouri women's basketball landed its first commitment in the Class of 2026 on Monday evening, as 6-foot-3 center Cecilie Brandimore announced via her X account that she has pledged to the Tigers.
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Brandimore marks the first high school player to commit to MU in the 2026 cycle — and the first high school commit of Harper's young tenure.
The Tigers added seven players in the transfer portal for the upcoming season, but won't have any true freshmen on the roster this year.
'I would like to give all glory and praise to God for the amazing opportunities, experiences, people, and coaches that he has blessed me with during my recruiting process,' Brandimore posted to social media. 'Thank you to the coaching staff for believing in me, and GO TIGERS!'
Harper dipped into somewhat familiar territory to get on the board in the next recruiting class.
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Brandimore hails from Franklin, Tennessee, near Nashville. Harper was previously the head coach of Tennessee.
She is not currently among the players listed in the ESPNW 100 rankings for girls basketball recruiting, but has been a consistent standout at the high school level.
According to the Tennessean, Brandimore averaged 24.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last season en route to earning first-team All-Midstate Large Class honors from the publication.
Franklin's Cecilie Brandimore gets the ball in the post against Centennial during their girls basketball game Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 at Franklin High in Franklin, Tennessee. Both teams wore the jerseys of Natchez High, the city of Franklin's former all-Black high school.
More: Missouri football gets commitment from Boonville product, MU legacy player in Class of 2026
More: Missouri basketball lands top-50 player in Class of 2027, before getting first 2026 commit
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The center currently plays AAU basketball for Kentucky Premier on the 17U EYBL Circuit.
Brandimore should add a frontcourt presence to a Mizzou roster that is currently a little lacking. The Tigers' only current center on the roster is Cleveland State newcomer Joranda Reisma, and she will be out of eligibility at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri women's basketball coach Kellie Harper adds first high school recruit
