Tre Mitchell Could Be First Impactful WVU Big Since Tshiebwe, Culver

During the offseason, West Virginia’s coaching staff has done a fine job at picking up needed big men. On Friday, WVU picked up Texas transfer Tre Mitchell, who was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 Team recipient back during his time at UMass.

Mitchell (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) will be able to insert himself right into the starting lineup for the Mountaineers. But first, Mitchell will need a waiver from the NCAA since this is his second time transferring.

The Pittsburgh native spent two seasons at UMass, averaging 18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 44 games for the Minutemen. Mitchell then entered the transfer portal in 2021 to join newly hired Chris Beard at Texas. Mitchell was one of the players that Beard picked up to make an immediate impact on the court with the Longhorns. By February, Mitchell left the Longhorns for personal reasons, never to return to finish the season. Mitchell averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds during his only season in Austin. The former Longhorn played West Virginia once in his career, this past season on Jan. 1, finishing with six points and three rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. Texas went on to win that game in Austin 74-59.

Now, Mitchell will be joining his third program in his collegiate career.

Looking at WVU’s big men for next season, the Mountaineers will have Mitchell, Jimmy Bell Jr., Mohamed Wague and James Okonkwo. This group will be interesting to watch develop over the next year due to the youth in Wague and Okonkwo and the adjustments from Mitchell and Bell.

What we all know for now is that Mitchell is being brought to West Virginia to be that impactful big man that the team has yearned for since the departures of Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver. Mitchell showed at UMass that he can be the No. 1 option for a team while getting rebounds and being a force in the paint.

Mitchell will have two years of eligibility.