Report: West Virginia Forward Tre Mitchell Enters Transfer Portal, Visiting UK This Weekend
Due to unfortunate circumstances, West Virginia basketball is likely to experience mass exodus in the middle of June.
Longtime head coach Bob Huggins resigned on June 17 after 16 seasons in Morgantown after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence.
While the original transfer portal window has closed, the NCAA allows a 30-day window for WVU players to leave if they wish, due to the coaching change. Kentucky is reportedly in the running for the first Mountaineer that is now in the portal.
247Sports' Travis Branham reported on Friday morning that super-senior forward Tre Mitchell is in the portal and is expected to visit Lexington this weekend:
In four seasons for three different programs, Mitchell has averaged 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. He owns a career 48.3 field goal percentage and is a 34.7-percent 3-point shooter.
The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder began his career at UMass, where he played two seasons. He averaged over 17 PPG and 7.0 RPG each season. As a sophomore for the Minutemen, he shot a career-best 51.9 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from behind the arc, though he played in just 13 games.
He then transferred to Texas, where he played in 24 games and started 17. His numbers dwindled, but the Pittsburgh, Pa. native still averaged 8.7 PPG and 4.0 RPG. That would be his only season in Austin, as he then made the move to West Virginia.
In 34 games as a Mountaineer, he poured in 11.7 PPG and 5.5 RPG. He now has one year of eligibility remaining and would fill another huge gap in the Kentucky roster ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Kentucky's big men currently consist of sophomore Ugonna Onyenso and freshmen Aaron Bradshaw, while freshmen Justin Edwards, Jordan Burks and sophomore combo Adou Thiero can serve as viable forwards.
Mitchell would join returning veteran shooting guard Antonio Reeves in the experience department, as the Cats' roster currently features seven freshmen and two sophomores to go along with Reeves, who also has just one season of eligibility remaining.
Insider Adam Zagoria has since reported that Mitchell doesn't currently have any visits locked in, though UK assistant coach Orlando Antigua has "reached out to Mitchell's camp."
Mitchell's name was churned through the rumor mill in Lexington before it was even official that he had entered the portal. Now, it appears as though the Wildcats will be frontrunners for the veteran forward.
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