The Kentucky Wildcats might be feeling a bit spurned right now after college basketball star Mark Mitchell backed out of his transfer to Lexington after roughly a week.
Mitchell is returning to Missouri as he seeks a fifth year of eligibility, his agent confirmed Monday. Previously, Mitchell had said he intended to seek that additional year at Kentucky.
Mark Mitchell will no longer be suiting up for Kentucky this season and will instead return to Missouri for a fifth season of eligibility, agent Brandon Mitchell of BAM Sports and Entertainment told @On3. https://t.co/NS89D3L8Zo
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 31, 2026
Mitchell’s decision might ultimately have nothing to do with preference and may simply be down to where he is most likely to be granted eligibility. While Mitchell obtained a temporary restraining order to play for Kentucky, the SEC threatened to declare Mitchell ineligible based on a rule that blocks transfers within the conference outside of a short period each year.
While Mitchell is not guaranteed to be eligible to play for Missouri next season, he likely has a better chance of gaining eligibility there compared with at Kentucky.
Mitchell led Missouri with 18.3 points per game last season. He previously spent the first two years of his college career at Duke.
