Mizzou standout earns preseason nod from SEC coaches
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As Mizzou men's basketball is set to debut a new-look roster when the 2025-26 campaign opens up on Monday, Nov. 3, head coach Dennis Gates and company will, undoubtedly, lean on their returning talent to pave the way.
The Tigers will enter Coach Gates' fourth season in Columbia with three returning starters on the roster, including senior guard/forward Mark Mitchell.
The Kansas City, Kansas native is one of the top talents in the Southeastern Conference and league coaches seemed to agree. On Thursday, he was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second-Team in the conference's Coaches Poll.
That honor came after Mitchell made an immediate impact, after arriving on campus ahead of the start of his junior season. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. The senior also became just the third Tiger to earn All-SEC honors in his first season on campus, joining former stars Jordan Clarkson and Kassius Robertson.
In his Mizzou debut, Mitchell also was one of just 14 players in the entire country to total 450 points, 150 boards, 60 assists, 30 steals and 24 blocks.
Coach Gates said he expects more big things from Mitchell in his senior season, as he said at SEC Media Days that he wants to the Kansas City native to be even more aggressive this season.
Mitchell and Mizzou will tip off the season at Howard University on Monday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. CT.
