Changes to the Duke basketball roster: Mark Mitchell and Christian Reeves both enter the transfer portal.
Duke basketball is bidding farewell to a key player who has been a starter for two years as he enters the NCAA transfer portal. Mark Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 forward who has started in 67 games over the past two seasons, is set to transfer to a new school to continue his college basketball career. This move follows the footsteps of 7-1 sophomore center Christian Reeves, who sat out this season. The decision comes after Duke narrowly missed reaching the Final Four. Mitchell, who averaged 11.6 points and six rebounds this season, played a crucial role in the team’s defensive strategies, showcasing his versatility by guarding both smaller perimeter players and larger interior opponents. Despite being recognized as one of the most versatile players nationally, Mitchell’s performance varied during Duke’s recent NCAA Tournament run. Over the past two seasons, Duke had a significantly better record when Mitchell scored in double digits compared to when he didn’t. Mitchell, originally from Kansas City, joined Duke as a highly regarded five-star recruit from Sunrise Christian Academy. His departure coincides with the arrival of promising freshmen, including top prospects like Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, expected to strengthen Duke’s interior lineup. Additionally, Duke will say goodbye to other players, including graduate student center Ryan Young and potentially Kyle Filipowski, who is contemplating entering the NBA Draft. The team is also considering recruiting a veteran big man to bolster its roster for the upcoming season.
