Mark Mitchell commits to Kentucky basketball

Former Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats for the 2026-27 college basketball season. The decision follows a legal victory in which a Kentucky judge granted Mitchell a temporary restraining order, allowing him to claim a fifth year of eligibility and enter the transfer portal.

Mitchell, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward and two-time All-SEC selection, previously played for Duke before transferring to Missouri. During his final season with the Tigers, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The legal ruling was necessary after a recent appellate court decision stripped federal eligibility protections for the high school Class of 2022, requiring individual athletes to seek court orders to secure additional seasons.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope secures Mitchell as a key addition to a roster that includes players such as Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, and Malachi Moreno. Mitchell is expected to return to Mizzou Arena as a member of the Wildcats on January 9.