| Justin Safford |
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Quickly:
Skilled lefty post player that began playing with more physicality towards the end of his sophomore season ... Has the ability to play above the rim and finish with either hand ... Is a capable three-point shooter and his 13-of-20 triples during his sophomore campaign ... Leads all Tiger post players in game experience and should take the next step this season after two years playing beside DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.
2008-09 Season:
Played in all 38 games and averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.4 minutes a contest ... Hit 13-of-20 treys on the year (.650), including 10 of his last 13 tries (.769) ... Hit all four of his three-point attempts during a career high 15-point outing at Texas A&M ... Scored seven points against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals and nine points against Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight ... Reached double figures three times on the season, with 10 points coming against Illinois and 13 against Colorado ... Started a late-season surge with a pair of treys against #4 Oklahoma ... Also contributed three steals in just seven minutes ... Finished the year averaging 5.3 points on 64 percent shooting from the floor over his final nine games.
2007-08 Season:
Enjoyed a solid freshman campaign, playing in 24 contests, while averaging 8.9 minutes a game ... Saw his play improve in Big 12 action, where he averaged an improved 3.6 points per game, up from his season average of 2.3 points ... Shot 40.0 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc ... Shot 46.1 percent from three over his final five games, including a pair of three-pointers in a home win over No. 22 Kansas State ... Played a career high 21 minutes vs. the nationally-ranked Wildcats, helping the Tigers to the upset win ... Scored a career high 10 points vs. No. 18 Texas A&M ... Grabbed a season high seven rebounds vs. MEAC Champion Coppin State ... Dished 14 assists on the year, including five multi-assists contests.
High School:
Listed among the nation's Top 20 post-graduate players (prep school) by Dave Telep of Scout.com ... Was a three-star performer by Rivals.com ... Was rated No. 17 on the list overall after averaging 17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots for head coach Carlos Peralta at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, N.C. ... Led the Crimson Tide to a 36-8 overall mark ... Ranked among team-leaders with 57 treys, despite playing the power forward position ... Turned in an outstanding performance at the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation All-Star Game in St. Louis over the summer, scoring 18 points, grabbing nine boards and three blocks ... Opened his high school career in his hometown of Bloomington, Ill., at Bloomington Central Catholic High School ... Was a three-year starter for the Saints, earning honorable mention Class A all-state recognition as a senior and was a first team All-Cornbelt Conference pick, averaging 15.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game ... Missed most of his junior campaign with a pinched nerve in his back, but still managed to earn all-league consideration in 2004-05 as a sophomore with averages of 14.1 points and 8.7 rebounds ... Chose Missouri over offers from Oklahoma, Providence, Virginia Tech and Xavier.
Personal:
Son of Carrie Handy and Shawn Safford ... Is undecided upon a major ... Lists signing with Missouri as the greatest moment of his young basketball career ... Lists his mother as the most influential person in his life ... Zach Braff of "Scrubs" is his favorite actor and he lists "Scarface" as his favorite movie ... Macaroni and Cheese is his favorite meal ... Played AAU basketball with
Team Illinois for Dodie Dunson, Sr.
Career Statistics
Season G-GS MPG FG-A FG% 3FG-A 3FG% FT-A FT% REB/AVG. A-BLK-S TP AVG.
2007-08 24-0 8.9 20-50 .400 7-19 .368 7-13 .538 52/2.2 14-8-8 54 2.3
Big 12 12-0 11.1 16-38 .421 6-15 .400 5-10 .500 25/2.1 11-2-4 43 3.6
Career HighsPts. 10 vs. Texas A&M (02-09-08)
Reb. 7 vs. Coppin State (12-27-07)
FG 4, twice
FGA 10 vs. Texas A&M (02-09-08)
3FG 2 vs. Kansas State (02-02-08)
3FGA 3, twice
FT 2, twice
FTA 4 vs. Texas A&M (02-09-08)
Asst. 2, four times
Blks 2, twice
Stls 2 at Texas Tech (01-23-08)
