Duke basketball sophomore forward Mark Mitchell has returned to practice.
Summer practices have been a little light for the Duke basketball program due to injuries.
Kyle Filipowski is still recovering from double hip surgery this offseason, Jeremy Roach is still nursing his injured toe back to full health, and Mark Mitchell was still rehabbing the knee that he hurt prior to Duke’s loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament.
However, Mitchell has returned to full contact after the Blue Devil social media account began the work week with the encouraging video.
Mitchell came off a screen on the wing and flew right down the middle of the paint for a violent dunk while hanging on the rim for extra emphasis.
Easy's back! @Mark_mitchell25 pic.twitter.com/IKIrJRAiez
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) July 17, 2023
The 6-foot-9 forward did have a sleeve over his right leg during the clip.
“Obviously I had a little knee issue during game,” Mitchell said during Duke’s media availability on Wednesday.
“I’m good now, I’m back healthy, it’s resolved.”
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Mark Mitchell averaged 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game during his freshman season while shooting 46.9-percent from the floor and 35.2-percent from 3-point range.
His absence against the Volunteers was the only game he did not play in the season.
“Mark is right there; he’s doing basically everything on the court,” Jon Scheyer said during the press conference.
Duke basketball being cautious in summer workouts
Mark Mitchell did not participate in the 4-on-4 scrimmage that Duke posted footage from as the freshmen class has impressed during the workouts.
“I’m just trying to get back on the court, get my condition back, and just get back to full strength and everything,” Mitchell told the media.
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“But I’m back on the court now, so I’m good.”
Mitchell will be a starter for the Blue Devils entering his second season as Duke will look to repeat as ACC Tournament Champions and are one of the favorites to win the National Championship.