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UMass Basketball: In-depth look at sophomore star center Tre Mitchell

By Bryan Mauro

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 26: Tre Mitchell #33 of the Massachusetts Minutemen is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Mason Patriots at the Eagle Bank Arena on January 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 26: Tre Mitchell #33 of the Massachusetts Minutemen is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Mason Patriots at the Eagle Bank Arena on January 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 26: Tre Mitchell #33 of the Massachusetts Minutemen (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 26: Tre Mitchell #33 of the Massachusetts Minutemen (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Why you should know Tre Mitchell

The sophomore big man has a chance to place his name in the record books next to guys like Marcus Camby and Cady Lalanne. The average fan may not know much about Lalanne, but UMass fans are always going to remember him as the player who led them back to the 2013-2014 NCAA tournament. Every college basketball fan knows about Camby, the former NBA big man is responsible for putting UMass basketball on the map, and Camby was also the one player who tore it all down for the Minutemen as well. He was accused of taking some impermissible benefits from an agent while he was a college player and it led to the NCAA telling UMass they needed to vacate wins.

Where does Mitchell fit in?  He already had one of the best seasons for a big man in recent UMass history. He was awarded the freshman of the year in the conference. The sophomore was also awarded all-freshman and all-conference honors. The Freshman of the Year was the first for the program since Rashaun Freeman in 2003-04 season. Mitchell was the conference freshman of the week six times which is the most in the Minutemen’s basketball history. It also tied for the most with former Rhode Island Ram Lamar Odom. The big man made the most baskets of any freshman in school history and had the second most prolific scoring year by a UMass freshman.

The big man is closer to Toppin than many may think. He averaged 19.6 points in conference games which was good for second in the league behind only Toppin. Mitchell much like the Dayton star took over games and dominated from tip to finish. He played a key role in almost every game the Minutemen won last year. It is not unexpected considering he arrived from one of the best prep schools in the country and arguably the best prep school in New England at Woodstock Academy.

He was named the Connecticut player of the year in 2019. The top-75 recruit lived up to lofty expectations placed upon him. UMass fans are expectedly excited for year number two for their star big man. The year which very well could be his last in Amherst.

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