The University of Missouri has always been Ryan Rosburg's dream school, but it took him some time to decide that he wanted to continue his basketball career in Columbia.
The Marquette senior center made that decision after an official visit to the school over the weekend, and on Wednesday he made a verbal commitment to play for the Tigers.
"I've always been a huge fan and it's my dream school, but I didn't know the coaches in the beginning and I didn't know if it would be an option," Rosburg said. "It ended up being a very tough decision."
The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder picked the Tigers over Tennessee and Missouri State. Virginia and Virginia Tech also were in his final five.
"Mizzou pretty much was the best place for me to accomplish all my goals," he said. "I want to be part of championship teams and cut down nets. After my visit I knew right then."
Rosburg will join his older brother, Andy, with the Tigers next season. Andy Rosburg, a 2008 Marquette graduate, tried out for the team and was offered a walk-on spot, which he accepted.
"I think that would be awesome," Ryan said of the possibility of playing with his brother next season. "We've never played on the same team except in pick-up games and stuff like that."
Rosburg estimates at one point he had more than 10 scholarship offers, a list he and his family narrowed to five finalists. He took official visits to Missouri State, Tennessee and Missouri before making his decision.
"I don't think he could have gone wrong any way he would have chosen," Marquette coach Shane Matzen said. "Every staff he had among his final choices were quality coaches and people. ... I'm a Mizzou guy through and through, so I'm really excited."
Matzen said Rosburg took the time to get to know new Missouri coach Frank Haith and his assistant coaches and developed a relationship with them before making his decision.
A starter since his freshman season at Marquette, Rosburg averaged 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game as a junior and led the Mustangs (18-11) to their first district title since 1996.
Rosburg averaged 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots as a 6-8 sophomore and 13 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a 6-6 freshman.
