Mark Mitchell has quickly become a name to watch for Kentucky, and the reason is simple: if the eligibility situation opens the door for class of 2022 players to return for another season, he could be one of the most sought-after pieces on the market.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward just wrapped up his senior year at Missouri, where he put together a strong all-around season. He averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 54.7% from the field and 38.8% from 3-point range on 1.5 attempts a night.
Kentucky already got a close look at what Mitchell can do. In Missouri’s 73-68 upset of the Wildcats at Rupp Arena, he finished with 21 points, four assists and one rebound, knocking down 7 of 15 shots. He was just as dangerous in the SEC Tournament, where Kentucky got its revenge but Mitchell still nearly powered another Missouri upset with 32 points, seven rebounds and one assist on 13-for-21 shooting, including 2-for-2 from deep.
That production is part of why CBS Sports national college basketball writer Isaac Trotter believes Mitchell will have a long list of options if he gets the chance to play again. Trotter discussed Mitchell’s future recently on CBS Sports Network with Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports’ director of basketball scouting.
“I think he’s playing college basketball next year,” Trotter said. “Point blank.
I think Mark Mitchell is going to find a way to get the right injunction so that he can play, and I think he’s going to get absolutely paid. I think a lot of people really covet how hard he plays, the motor, the rim pressure, the athleticism that he brings to the court.
Like, he’s a five or $6 million player, in my opinion.
“And I think in this market, there’s a lot of times where people go, ‘Well, there’s no money.’ Well, for the really, really good players, that money usually tends to be found, right? Like, and Mark Mitchell is, you know, a guy who’s going to have a huge, huge market once he gets the right court ruling for his fifth year.
“The team that I’ve heard a lot about is Kentucky. That is definitely in play.
You think about a potential frontline of Milan Momcilovic, Mark Mitchell at the 4. Then Malachi Moreno at the 5, like that would be a really, really impressive unit right there for Mark Pope.
That’s just kind of curious, like how this whole process plays out, and I know he likes Missouri as well. So a potential return to Missouri is certainly in play, but that just point being said, I think Mark Mitchell is playing college basketball next season.”
That kind of buzz has Kentucky fans paying attention, especially with one roster spot still available. A frontcourt built around Momcilovic, Mitchell and Moreno would give Mark Pope three players who could create matchup headaches while adding another veteran presence to a roster that has already changed a lot.
Mitchell’s SEC experience, along with his scoring, rebounding and passing ability, makes him an appealing fit for Kentucky if he gets another year. Missouri is still in the mix, though, so the Wildcats would not be alone if Mitchell ultimately returns to college basketball.
For now, the eligibility question is still the key. If Mitchell gets the chance to play a fifth season, Kentucky looks like a team firmly worth watching.
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Kentucky Just Got The Kind Of SEC Buzz Fans Wanted
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