How 3 of Mizzou’s Transfer Portal Signings Could Fill the Void of Mark Mitchell

Mark Mitchell will go down in history as a Missouri basketball great. After starting 66 games with Missouri and leading the team in points, rebounds and assists last year, Mitchell’s tenure ended in March.

Finding a replacement for someone that has the finishing ability and versatility like Mitchell is nearly impossible, but through three transfers, the Tigers may have done just that.

Mitchell’s dominance at Missouri couldn’t be replaced by one player, which is why head coach Dennis Gates focused on three forwards with a variety of skillsets. Missouri tapped three different conferences, signing Tennessee’s Jaylen Carey, Providence’s Jamier Jones and Kansas’ Bryson Tiller.

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“I think when we look at the things that we lost last year, we lost great players,” Gates said Wednesday at a ‘ZOU to YOU’ fan event in St. Louis. “(But) Bryson Tiller and all our student athletes give us that physicality, that athleticism and versatility.”

Between the drama of adding Tiller from rival Kansas and his sheer talent, the signing has been the biggest headline for the Tigers in the portal. Tiller brings size, paint scoring, and versatility in the absence of Mitchell.

“And if we had to replace Mark Mitchell, which I know is a big ask and a big task, there’s none other than a person like Bryson Tiller who I believe can do that from a versatility standpoint,” Gates said.

Kansas Jayhawks forward Bryson Tiller (15) looks for a layup against Arizona Wildcats during the game inside Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 9, 2026. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As a freshman the 6-foot-11 forward averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 25.9 minutes. Tiller started 31 games for Kansas and accumulated experience against some of the top teams in the country.

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Tiller’s top performances came in victories over top-notch programs, No. 1 Arizona, No. 5 Houston and No. 13 BYU. Tiller recorded 18 points, eight rebounds against Arizona, 11 points, 10…

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Publish date : 2026-05-02 11:00:00

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