Dennis Gates speaks on Mark Mitchell and CJ Gunn’s ongoing eligibility battle
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Only time – and the court system – will tell if Mizzou forward Mark Mitchell and guard CJ Gunn will be eligible to play for the Tigers in the 2026-27 campaign.
MU will open up the season on Nov. 3 against Cleveland State and will hope to have answers to those two major questions before then.
On Sunday, head coach Dennis Gates and company held their annual pro day, where players can show their talents in front of league scouts. After the action wrapped up, the leader of Tiger hoops met with local media members and commented on his decision to bring Mitchell and Gunn into the fold, for the first time.
"We had two scholarships, so first of all, I wasn't going to just sign any and everybody. The most important thing is finding guys that fit and those guys fit our culture. They fit our team. They are great players, as you guys have seen. That experience does help," Gates said. "More importantly, we're just going to support them as they go through their processes and their appeals and different things like that. So, we got to honor the court system, we got to honor where my stance is, and that's supporting student-athletes. I think when you're looking at our game, these student-athletes need to be supported how they need to be supported to go out and have an opportunity and that's what we're doing."
Both Mitchell and Gunn will need a court to grant them a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order in order for them to play with their fifth season of eligibility this year.
Mitchell, who already played in Columbia for two seasons, originally had a preliminary injunction granted to him in the state of Kentucky. However, weeks after that court's decision, the judge decided to dissolve the injunction that had ruled Mitchell and a slew of other players temporarily eligible. That means, as of now, the Kansas City native is not eligible for the 2026-27 season.
His lawyer told ABC 17 News that they are looking to schedule another hearing. If they can't get a new date, then they will seek relief in the Supreme Court of Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Gunn was ruled eligible for the 2026-27 season thanks to a lawsuit in Dallas County, Texas. However, he has also recently filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Boone County. The guard's hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The two players were both participants of Mizzou's pro day, on Sunday.
"They fit our culture...I mean, you look at a kid like CJ Gunn and he played high school basketball with Tony Perkins and college basketball with Tamar Bates. So, just think about him watching those guys play here and he wanted to be here. You look at Mark Mitchell and he came to us when we were 0-19, played two seasons and he has an opportunity to be back. I just wish these guys had the opportunity to make the decision as soon as their season ended last year, right. But, the rule was made when it was made and our guys are going to adjust all adjust. So, I have to continue to put them in situations where they're getting better, but also where they're coaching guys and pushing guys. They're not taking days off at all, so my job is to make sure they're developing and gaining the opportunity without knowing what tomorrow looks like," Gates said.
Stay tuned to ABC 17 News both on air and online for updates on the status of Gunn and Mitchell.
