Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Mark Mitchell Laughs at Outdated Injury Report

It's been roughly three months since Duke basketball's Mark Mitchell returned to the practice court.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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On Monday, after speaking to second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer on the College Hoops Today Podcast, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reported that returning Blue Devil starters "Kyle Filipowski (hip) and Mark Mitchell (knee) have both been fully cleared for all basketball-related activities."

RELATED: Duke Fills Final Scholarship Spot for 2023-24 Season

Naturally, folks on social media spread Rothstein's report, which is newsworthy concerning Filipowski's status given the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year forward's months-long recovery from hip surgery in April.

However, Rothstein's post implies that Mitchell, too, only recently had individual limitations lifted in the team's offseason workouts. And that could give the impression that his injury, suffered before Duke's season-ending loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, was more severe than it was in reality.

With that in mind, it's understandable that Mark Mitchell set the record straight with the following posted message, including a laughing emoji, to his followers: "I've been cleared since June 😂."

Indeed, during Duke basketball's summer media day in mid-July, the 6-foot-9, 232-pound forward, a 2022 McDonald's All-American out of Sunrise Christian (Kan.), clearly explained that he had resumed all basketball-related activities already.

At the time — now over two months ago — he was still working on regaining his endurance. But that's it.

"Yeah, obviously I had a little knee issue during that game," Mitchell, one of four returning starters for the Blue Devils alongside fellow sophomores Filipowski and Tyrese Proctor and senior Jeremy Roach, said to the media then. "I'm good now. I'm back healthy.

"It's resolved. I'm just trying to get back on the court, get my condition back, and just get back to full strength and everything. But I'm back on the court now, so I'm good."

He wasn't lying, as is evident in the following five-on-five scrimmage highlights from early August:

And no new reported injuries have popped up since those comments, neither to Mark Mitchell nor his teammates.

In other words, with eight scholarship players returning from a team that won the ACC Tournament and adding four five-star rookies to the mix, Duke basketball looks to be in a good spot with less than 50 days until the regular season begins.

RELATED: When to Expect Duke's Complete 2023-24 Schedule

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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