Another big time college hoops player entered the transfer portal on Monday, this time being Pittsburgh native Tre Mitchell.
Mitchell played his first two years of high school ball at Elizabeth Forward in the suburb just south of the city. There, he scored 19 points per game before moving on to play the remainder of his high school career at prep school Woodstock Academy.
Fast forward to now, and Mitchell just finished up his sophomore season at Massachusetts, where he averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this year. The skilled 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man lit up the scoresheet on his way to earning first team All-A10 honors this season, having games of 23, 24, 30, 31, and 37 points.
For a team that is on the prowl for a center, Pitt should look no further than a hometown guy in Mitchell. The addition of his game would bring the Pitt team to new heights, as he excels at the things that Pitt lacks. Mitchell has excellent touch around the rim, great footwork, and thrives in the post, three things that Pitt lacks while playing just Abdoul-Karim Coulibaly at the five. Mitchell and Coulibaly together on the court would be a lethal combination, as Coulibaly would not necessarily have to look to make his own offense anymore and instead could be out there for defensive purposes.
Mitchell also possesses a solid jump shot with some three-point capability. He shot 52% from the field this season along with 38% from downtown. Another one of the reasons he dominated Atlantic 10 play this season was his ability to shoot with both hands inside. Mitchell’s hook shot has been one of his biggest weapons since high school and he looks as confident as anyone inside going up with the right or left.
Don’t be surprised if Pitt puts the full court press on Mitchell, and soon. Jeff Capel and his staff were in on Mitchell out of high school, but he evidently chose to go to Massachusetts instead. Now in the transfer portal, many big-time, high major colleges will be looking into adding Mitchell’s talents, so it will be a tough race for Pitt to get him in the blue and gold.
