Duke basketball: Mark Mitchell explains decision to return to Blue Devils

Duke basketball forward Mark Mitchell explained his process on returning to school. 

The offseason got off to a solid start for Jon Scheyer and the Duke basketball team after freshmen Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell announced their returns to Durham for at least one more season.

ACC Freshman of the Year Kyle Filipowski joined them in returning to school for his sophomore campaign while Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II announced they would be entering the 2023 NBA Draft.

Jeremy Roach entered the draft as well but is maintaining his college eligibility.

However, Mitchell recently explained his decision process on The Field of 68.

“I definitely talked to my family, people around me, coach [Jon Scheyer] and everybody and I decided another year could help me develop,” Mitchell said.

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“Having two of my classmates back with me helped make the decision a little bit easier.”

Mitchell started every game for the Blue Devils this year until the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament against Tennessee in which he injured himself in practice the day before and was unable to suit up.

The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 46.9-percent from the field and 35.2-percent from 3-point range.

Duke was 15-1 this season when Mitchell scored at least 10 points in a game.

Duke basketball primed for massive season in 2023-24

Duke is ranked as the No. 1 team in many way-too-early Top-25 polls because of the return of Mark Mitchell, Tyrese Proctor, and Kyle Filipowski while bringing in the No. 2 recruiting class in the country.

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Mitchell was presented with the Pagliuca Family Coach’s Award at the Blue Devil banquet last week as an award given to the player best displaying the commitment and values of the Duke basketball program.

The Kansas City, Kansas native will certainly play a major role in the success — both on and off the floor — of the Blue Devils next season in its hopes to win a sixth National Championship.