Mark Mitchell’s path toward Kentucky didn’t begin in the transfer portal or on a highlight reel. It started years earlier, long before he was dropping big numbers against the Wildcats and long before the NCAA’s latest round of legal headaches opened the door to something bigger.
Mitchell, now a former Missouri Tiger, is one of several former student-athletes seeking a fifth year after the NCAA approved the five-in-five model. His case is part of the latest court fight out of the Bluegrass, where the association’s newest rule is already under scrutiny.
What makes Mitchell’s situation stand out is how long Kentucky has apparently been on his mind. A video making the rounds on social media shows a young Mitchell calling Kansas “overrated,” and when asked if Kentucky was the best school, he answered, “Yeah, Kentucky is the best.”
The clip comes from a Chris Paul middle school combine, which is easy to spot from the shirts in the video. But the message is clear enough: Mitchell has wanted to be a Cat for a long time.
That dream now has a real chance to become something more than a childhood comment. Mitchell has also been a problem for Kentucky on the court, averaging 25 points and 5 rebounds over three games against the Wildcats in the last two years.
His case is being heard in Louisville, where Jefferson County Judge Brian C. Edwards is scheduled to review information through Tuesday before issuing a ruling by the end of next week.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Linebacker Situation Just Took A Turn Fans Need To Watch
Kentuckys linebacker room got a notable update this week when Will Stein said Antonio OBerry has exhausted his eligibility and will not play this season. The news narrows the defensive options at a position where depth always matters, especially as teams try to settle roles and build continuity heading into the stretch run of camp and into the fall.
Alex Afari Jr. offers a possible boost, though his situation is still in flux. He has rejoined the Wildcats and is back at practice while waiting on NCAA clarification about whether he can play a potential fifth season, after spending four years at Kentucky and taking part in an NFL rookie minicamp without signing with a team. For Kentucky, it leaves one spot clearly closed and another still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Works Is Giving Kentucky Fans A New Defensive Reason To Watch
Cedric CJ Works has started to emerge as one of the more intriguing pieces of Kentuckys defense, and not just because he got on the field in every game last season. With the Wildcats installing a more aggressive scheme under new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, the sophomore is expected to take on the JACK role, a spot that asks for speed, edge pressure and enough versatility to bother offenses in a few different ways. It is the kind of assignment that can put a young defender on the radar quickly if the talent matches the opportunity.
Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart has already raised the ceiling talk by comparing Works to former Kentucky standout Josh Allen, which is the sort of praise that naturally gets attention in Lexington. Works, for his part, sounds eager for the challenge and believes the new system can help him take a step forward, even while acknowledging he still has plenty of room to develop. For a Kentucky defense looking for new playmakers, that combination of opportunity, confidence and upside is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Defense Gets A Mixed Update Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Kentuckys defense got a mixed early-week update as Will Stein sorted through two familiar names with very different short-term paths. Transfer edge rusher Antonio OBerry will not be available after the NCAA ruled him ineligible because he has already completed five seasons of college football, trimming one option from the Wildcats pass-rush plans before he ever got a chance to settle in.
There was better news for former linebacker Alex Afari, who has been cleared to practice with the team as Kentucky waits on his competition status. Afari was a significant part of the Wildcats defense before, so even the possibility of getting him back into games would matter, but for now the final piece of that return still hangs in the balance. [Read more 🡒]