With a leader emerging for Jaxon Kohler Mark Pope must go all in for Mark Mitchell

Ever since the court ruling in Colorado deeming 2022 high school graduates who used their final year of college eligibility this past college basketball season eligible, it has been quite hectic. Coach Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have been after a few different players to add as the 15th member of the Kentucky roster.

Of late, there are two names that the Wildcats have been associated with, and they are former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler and former Missouri forward Mark Mitchell. Well, now, according to Joe Tipton of On3, the Wildcats are losing ground with Kohler as BYU has taken over as the leader. Now this means that if the staff is going to have to go all in on Mitchell if they want to add an elite forward to the 2026-27 roster.

A frontrunner has emerged for Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler as he pursues a fifth year of eligibility, sources tell @PeteNakos and me for @On3.

Intel: https://t.co/qnMXmr0PsW pic.twitter.com/n0a6nCynsK
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 12, 2026

When it comes to the fit in Lexington between either Kohler or Mitchell, I do believe that it was close. Kohler is a much better rebounder than Mitchell, and that is one area that Kentucky is in need of some help. Kohler is also a better three-point shooter, but Mitchell is the better overall offensive player.

Coach Pope recently talked about how the biggest problem this Kentucky team has is physicality, and both of these options would add that to the roster. Mitchell was one of the best players in the SEC last season at scoring around the rim, and that is something the Wildcats might be lacking right now at the four.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell (25) drives to the basket \against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes during the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If Kohler is BYU-bound, that is okay, but Coach Pope really needs to do everything in his power to try and land Mitchell because this roster really needs another four. Ousmane N’Diaye has all of the tools in the world to become a superstar, but Pope would love to not have to rely on him hitting his upside. Adding a player like Mitchell to the roster would give N’Diaye time to figure it out, and the staff wouldn’t have to rush him.

This is going to be a very interesting part of the offseason for Kentucky fans to monitor, and it is so weird that it is happening in the month of August. Coach Pope has said that if he can find a way to make this team better, he is going to do it and adding a player like Mitchell would do just that.

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