After 5 players enter portal, Mike Mitchell Jr. returning to Gophers

Mike Mitchell Jr. will return to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for his senior season 

Mitchell's father confirmed the news to the Star Tribune's Marcus Fuller, saying his son is "very appreciative of how the University of Minnesota community embraced him from the moment he arrived" after transferring from Pepperdine last season. 

Mitchell returning is a step in the right direction after head coach Ben Johnson's program was slammed with transfer news this week. Pharrel Payne, Joshua Ola-Joseph, Braeden Carrington, Isaiah Ihnen and Kris Keinys have all entered the portal, leaving just seven scholarship players on the roster. 

Mitchell is expected to join Elijah Hawkins in the starting backcourt next season. The question is who else will join them in the starting lineup. Freshman Cam Christie hasn't announced his plans, nor has leading scorer Dawson Garcia. If both return, Minnesota would have four-fifths of its starting lineup back for 2024-25. 

Mitchell is a 6-foot-2 guard who shot 40% from 3-point land in his first year with the Gophers. He averaged 10.2 assists and 2.6 assists per game.