Mark Mitchell is exploring a return to college basketball. The former Missouri standout entered the transfer portal following a recent federal court ruling that affects athletes from the high school class of 2022. This judicial decision granted a preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to allow these athletes a fifth year of eligibility, correcting a gap that left this specific group with only four seasons while preceding and succeeding classes gained additional time.
Mitchell concluded his four-year career this past spring, earning second-team All-SEC honors during his final season at Mizzou. He averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in 2025-26. After going undrafted in the NBA and spending time with the Denver Nuggets in the Summer League, Mitchell is now positioning himself to potentially utilize that extra year of college eligibility granted by the court injunction.
The situation creates logistical challenges for schools. Missouri currently has a full roster of 15 players after an active off-season in the transfer portal and high-school recruitment. While the NCAA typically enforces strict roster caps, the sudden influx of fifth-year players across the country may force a re-evaluation of these limits. Representatives for Mitchell have already contacted multiple institutions to gauge interest in his services for the upcoming season.
Legal experts suggest that the NCAA will likely appeal the court decision, meaning the path to immediate eligibility for every affected player remains subject to change. Despite the uncertainty, the move signals a major shift in roster construction for college basketball programs across the country. Missouri fans are left to watch the situation closely to see if their former leading scorer finds a way back to the court in Columbia.