Tre Mitchell explains why adjustment at Kentucky has been easy

Much is already being asked of Tre Mitchell after committing to Kentucky last month. After announcing his decision to come to Lexington just over two weeks ago, the fifth-year transfer is being thrown into the fire right away with games starting tomorrow for the Wildcat’s trip to Toronto to play in the GLOBL JAM.

Even so, Mitchell isn’t too concerned about getting adjusted. From what he said to the media last week, getting acclimated is something that he’s used to considering this is the third change of scenery and fourth stop overall in his collegiate career.

“I mean I’ve done it how many times at this point?,” laughed Mitchell. “I’ve done this so many times at this point (where) I’ve got to pick up where I can and get involved where I can.”

Mitchell started his career at UMass where he spent two seasons. In his 44 games with the Minutemen, he averaged 18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds on 50% shooting.

Then, in ’21-’22, Mitchell made his first stop in the Big 12 with Texas. During his lone season on The 40 Acres, he averaged 8.7 points and four rebounds per game in 24 appearances. After that was his most recent stop at West Virginia where he put up 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 34 outings with the Mountaineers.

If you’re keeping count at home, that’s a grand total of 102 college games under Mitchell’s belt over his four previous seasons. That experience is something Kentucky sorely needed and, ahead of their summer matchups in Canada, is something that’s going to help Mitchell fit right in right away.

Mitchell says competitiveness stands out at Kentucky

New Kentucky forward Tre Mitchell arrived in Lexington just a few weeks ago. But his teammates are already impressing with how hard they are working this summer to get better.

“I would say the way that these dudes compete has surprised me a little bit,” Mitchell said this past Friday. “I didn’t know what I was walking into. But once I got here and I got to be a part of practice? And you feel the edge and you feel dudes competing? It’s like, okay, I can get behind this and I can add to this.”

Mitchell also described the intensity of the practices Kentucky has had so far this summer.

“Just like I said, we’ve been doing a lot of competing. It’s been a lot of competing. Dudes are hungry,” Mitchell said. “Dudes want to get after it every single day. And it shows in the way that we play. Dudes are diving on the floor, dudes are going out the bus but at the same time.”