Mark Mitchell is headed back to Missouri.
The former Tigers forward is no longer planning to attend Kentucky and has re-enrolled at Mizzou, according to Jon Rothstein and Jeff Borzello. Mitchell had previously transferred to Kentucky after a Kentucky judge granted him a fifth year of eligibility, but that path has now flipped back toward Columbia.
Dennis Gates wasted no time leaning into the moment, even posting his patentent bat-signal, which he shines every time Mizzou lands a commitment.
Mitchell’s road to getting here was anything but simple. After spending the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons at Missouri, he explored the NBA route and played for the Denver Nuggets in summer league.
Then the NCAA changed its eligibility rules in June, allowing players to compete in five seasons across five years but not grandfathering in the high school class of 2022, which includes Mitchell. He then joined the Kentucky lawsuit that eventually secured his eligibility.
His agent said Mitchell never signed an exhibit-10 contract, which kept him clear of the Southeastern Conference rule that bars players who sign professional contracts from returning to college sports. He also never officially declared for the NBA Draft, since he was automatically entered because his eligibility expired. Because of that, he never improperly withdrew, either.
Kentucky’s commitment announcement came on Aug. 22, but the SEC’s intraconference-transfer rule kept him from officially joining the Wildcats. Mitchell never entered the transfer portal during the spring window, and the league blocked the unconventional move.
On the floor, Missouri is getting a major piece back. Mitchell averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in the 2025-26 season with the Tigers.
His return adds even more firepower to what is already shaping up as one of the most anticipated rosters in program history. Missouri’s group includes five-star freshmen Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant, top-50 transfers Bryson Tiller and Jamier Jones, returners such as Trent Pierce, and a bench full of veteran talent.
The Tigers currently have 15 players on the roster, so Mitchell’s addition would bring that number to 16.
Missouri opens its season Nov. 3 at home against Cleveland State. Before that, the Tigers will play two road exhibition games: at Kansas State on Oct. 23 and at UNLV on Oct. 29.
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Mark Mitchells path took a sudden turn this week, and it lands with real significance for Missouri. After initially committing to Kentucky following his gain of a fifth year of eligibility, Mitchell is no longer headed to Lexington and will instead return to Missouri for that extra season. The swing matters because it keeps an experienced forward in the SEC mix while giving Missouri a familiar piece back in a spot where roster stability always carries weight.
The change came after the conference stepped in on intra-conference transfer rules, leaving Kentucky in a difficult spot if Mitchell were to play. For Missouri, the news reshapes the outlook in a positive way, while Kentucky has had to sort out its options at the four, where Ousmane N'Diaye and Justin McBride now sit atop the depth chart and John Calipari may need to consider positional adjustments. Mitchells return closes one door in Lexington and opens another in Columbia, even if the full ripple effects are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]