Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal

By Jerran Anderson

Nov 10, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; North Dakota State Bison forward Grant Nelson (4) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; North Dakota State Bison forward Grant Nelson (4) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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West Virginia Basketball
Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Tre Mitchell – 6’9 Center/Forward – Kentucky Wildcats

Tre Mitchell is the first key transfer to keep an eye on in the SEC basketball ranks. He’ll join the Kentucky Wildcats after spending the past season in the Big 12 with West Virginia Mountaineers. While Kentucky will be his fourth school, he’s shown he can play in a power conference since leaving UMass following the 2020-21 season.

Mitchell has made quite the journey as he enters graduate transfer territory as a member of the Wildcats. He burst onto the college basketball scene as a member of the UMass Minutemen in 2019-20, taking home Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year while putting up 17.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.0 bpg. In Year 2, his numbers improved across the board as he put up 18.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.2 spg across 13 appearances, 12 starts.

As his stock rose, he found himself leaving mid-major conference ball to high-major ball. In 2021-22, he spent the year as a member of the Texas Longhorns. He appeared in 24 games, starting in 17, averaging 8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.3 apg while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 32.6 percent from 3-point range before hitting the portal and heading to Big 12 foe, West Virginia.

This past season as a member of the Mountaineers, he produced 11.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.8 apg while shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point land in what was arguably an adversity-filled season that saw them finish 19-15 but still make the NCAA Tournament thanks to Mitchell’s production. He finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks in their Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship victory over Kansas State.

Though they lost in the first round, it still impressed enough for Mitchell to get a late call to join the rotation for the Wildcats after he entered the portal following the resignation of head coach Bob Huggins.

He’ll look to provide support on the interior as the lone transfer out of the portal in 2023-24. He brings a ton of versatility and shooting to the fold given his size and length at 6-foot-9. He’ll just need to prove he can also hold his own on the defensive front and be an anchor for the Wildcats.

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