NCAA Basketball: 5 players to watch if West Virginia has a mass roster exodus
Tre Mitchell
2022-23 season stats: 11.7 ppg and 5.5 rpg
Mitchell is the top returning player on the West Virginia roster so he’s actually been coached by Bob Huggins. It was arguably his most successful season yet since he started on an NCAA Tournament team. He’s a former top-100 prospect from Pittsburgh that played his first two years at UMass, averaging over 18 ppg and 7.0 rpg.
He went to Texas, where things went a little sour. Mitchell averaged 8.7 ppg and 4.0 rpg in 19 mpg, starting 17 games. The big man ultimately left due to mental health reasons and entered the portal, ending up at West Virginia. He ended up having a nice impact as the team’s lone offensive threat in the frontcourt.
Mitchell’s offensive production was inconsistent since both Erik Stevenson and Emmitt Matthews Jr. were the overall focal points. But the senior forward had his own big performances, including 22 points against Oklahoma State and 14 points and 15 rebounds against Baylor. And more importantly, he proved that he can play and defend at the power forward position after primarily playing at the center spot in his NCAA Basketball career.
Mitchell would be a three-time transfer and it’s unknown if he’s a graduate at this point. So of all the guys that could leave, he’s the one that would need the waiver the most. But if he leaves and is granted a waiver, look for there to be plenty of interest in a guy that can both frontcourt positions and can spread the floor offensively.