Trent Burns enters Missouri’s 2026-27 season as one of the most intriguing pieces on Dennis Gates’ roster, and also one of the hardest to pin down. The redshirt sophomore has already flashed enough to make people believe there’s something special here, but he’s still very much a work in progress.
That’s the tension with Burns. At 7-foot-5 and 260 pounds, he looks like a player who can change a game simply by stepping on the floor.
He brings the kind of size that turns heads immediately, but he also carries the more modern, guard-like traits that make him stand out from the usual center profile. Missouri has not seen the full version yet, though the raw ingredients are obvious.
Last season offered a first real look at what Burns can become. Even in limited action, he showed more fluidity and more feel than many expected from a player getting his first taste of the court.
That alone made him worth watching. The next step is seeing whether those flashes turn into something more consistent.
If Burns is going to carve out a real role next season, it probably starts with defense. His length gives him a chance to become a shot-blocker who can alter possessions just by being near the rim.
The timing still has to sharpen up, but the physical tools are already there. He does not need much space to get a hand on a shot attempt.
Offensively, the picture is murkier. Burns has shooting upside, but he has not yet shown much touch around the basket or much ability to create for himself in the post. He also has not been asked to do a lot there, so any sign that he’s more willing to score would count as progress.
The role in front of him also matters. Next season, Burns will likely back up either Tennessee transfer Jaylen Carey or Kansas transfer Bryson Tiller. That setup would put him behind two smaller, more athletic bigs, while his own size and length would give Missouri a different look at center when he’s on the floor.
Health is part of the equation, too. Burns’ frame makes him more vulnerable to injury, which puts a premium on offseason training and conditioning. For Gates, keeping Burns upright and available will be a major concern, because even a bad landing could create problems.
The bigger question is what kind of leap, if any, is realistic. Burns has enough talent to keep Missouri fans interested, but there’s also a clear sense that he may not be ready for major minutes yet. If that holds, his redshirt sophomore season could look more like another step than a breakthrough.
That’s why the most important measure may not be a dramatic jump in production. A little more in the scoring column, a little more on the glass, and a little more rim protection would all point in the right direction. For Burns, visible growth in fluidity and feel might matter more than any single stat line.
Stats: 6 ppg, 4 rpg, .4 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.9 bpg, 0.9 tpg, 55% FG, 20% 3FG, 75%FT
Burns remains an unfinished project at center, and Missouri’s plan for him has to be handled carefully if he’s going to reach his ceiling. That could mean more patience than excitement in 2026-27.
Stats: 2.5ppg, 3.4 rpg, .2 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.5 bpg, 0.9 tpg, 55% FG, 20% 3FG, 75%FT
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