Mark Mitchell, 2022 five-star, cuts list to 4

Mark Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Wichita (Kan.) Sunrise Christian tells On3 he is down to four schools – Duke, Kansas, Mizzou, and UCLA.

Mitchell has already taken official visits to each of his four finalists. He discussed each visit & school with On3 in a previous interview.

Mark Mitchell on Duke

“Duke was just different… in a good way,” Mitchell said. “They operate on a little different echelon. It was great, though. My mom is actually from the state of North Carolina. It was great seeing all the history they have there and all the great players on the walls, and then even the players they have now too. Some of the best players in college basketball.”

Mitchell says Coach K retiring didn’t have an effect on him considering the program.

“When they started to recruit me heavily, they kinda told me that Coach K was probably going to retire,” Mitchell said. “So I wasn’t blindsided by anything. So I kinda knew. Coach (Jon) Scheyer is a great guy. I think he will be a great legendary coach also. I think he has everything he needs to do it. He definitely cares about Duke deep down in his heart. It didn’t affect me at all, Coach K retiring. I think he will still be around a little bit if I ever want to talk to him so if I decide to go there then he will still be around.”

Mitchell says ‘The Brotherhood’ is something they pitched to him.

“Coach Scheyer just said how they are always together,” Mitchell said. “And if you go through Duke, then you’re always a part of Duke. And just the connection they have with everybody. The Brotherhood expands not only to basketball, but other things. Other ways of life and other things you might want to get into.”

Mark Mitchell on Kansas

The ‘hometown school’ has been recruiting Mitchell the longest, since the eighth grade. To no surprise, he says “it’s almost like a home feel.” In fact, the campus is only 40 minutes away from his house.

“I’ve been to Lawrence many times,” Mitchell said. “It wasn’t anything I haven’t seen before (the official visit). It was just more so getting to know the staff, the people on a deeper level. I think just seeing it from a different standpoint.. more than just someone who lives close. But yeah it was good. I got more of a feel for what goes on on a daily basis.”

When asked if he feels any pressure to stay home and attend Kansas, he responded: “Maybe from my community, but I’d say my friends and family just want what’s best for me. Everybody here is like ‘KU Basketball’.”

Mitchell on Mizzou

Mitchell said the Mizzou visit “blew away my expectations.”

“Cuonzo Martin is a real good guy,” Mitchell said. “Almost like family. Just the whole coaching staff. Coach Martin and Coach Marco (Harris-Stevens) and those guys. It’s like a family atmosphere. It would just be starting something new at Mizzou. Obviously, they haven’t been a big basketball powerhouse. I think by me going there it would start something new. Columbia was a great town, a good college town. A lot of fun.”

Mitchell on UCLA

“I love it out there,” Mitchell said. “I mean who can’t? Just with the weather. It’s one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Coach (Mick) Cronin and the staff, I really connected with them. I just talked with them to see how I could fit into their program. It was great though.”