WVU forward Tre Mitchell reportedly enters transfer portal

NCAA BASKETBALL: MAR 16 DIV I Men's Basketball Championship - West Virginia vs Maryland — BIRMINGHAM, AL - MARCH 16: West Virginia Mountaineers forward Tre Mitchell (3) the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship first round game between the Maryland Terrapins and the West Virginia Mountaineers on March 16, 2023 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)

Is the next domino set to fall for John Calipari and the Kentucky basketball program? It’s now on the table, as West Virginia forward Tre Mitchell is reportedly entering the transfer portal.

Justin Jackson of the Dominion Post was the first to break the news, adding that he entered the portal today and the Mountaineers have two business days to officially put his name in.

Lots of buzz lately about #wvu forward Tre Mitchell. Just told by source he's entered the portal today. School has 2 business days to officially put his name in the portal.
— Justin Jackson (@bigjax3211) June 23, 2023

Ethan Bock of The Portal Report and West Virginia Sports Now has confirmed the original report.

Official: WVU F Tre Mitchell is entering the transfer portal, @bigjax3211 first to report tonight

Mitchell played in all 34 games for the Mountaineers this past season averaging 11.7 PTS and 5.5 REB. Mitchell is the first WVU player to enter since Bob Huggins resigned. pic.twitter.com/krstIDlW0Q
— Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) June 23, 2023

Why is this relevant to the Wildcats? Prior connections as a Pittsburgh native and former UMass standout make Mitchell a clear target and priority for Calipari. The fifth-year senior averaged 11.7 points on 47.0% shooting, 36.4% from three and 78.9% at the line for WVU this past season while adding 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.

He’s averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game over the course of his career. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward started his career at UMass (2019-21) before transferring to Texas in 2021-22.

This past season alone, the veteran forward had 21 games of double figures for the Mountaineers, including 13 outings of 15 or more points and three of 20-plus. He finished with five or more rebounds in 21 games.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Multiple sources tell KSR that Kentucky would be at the top of Mitchell’s priority list should he ultimately enter the portal, as expected. And the interest would be mutual, a clear plug-and-play fit for a roster in need of both experience and frontcourt depth.

Considering the prior connections and timing — summer classes and practices have already begun — things could move quickly once the Pittsburgh native officially hits the portal.

pic.twitter.com/hNx5QkuygY
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) June 23, 2023

If you ask Ryan Lemond, there’s a “90% chance” the soon-to-be former Mountaineer finds his way to Lexington.

Mitchell was rated as a consensus four-star, top-125 prospect out of high school. He was the No. 80 overall recruit and No. 15 power forward in the 2019 On3 Industry Ranking.

The last West Virginia transfer worked out pretty well for Calipari and the Wildcats. Time for round two?