Duke men's basketball forward Mark Mitchell has entered the transfer portal

Duke's starting lineup will have a 6-foot-9 slot next season.

Sophomore forward Mark Mitchell, who has started 67 games for the Blue Devils over the past two seasons, announced via Instagram that he is entering the transfer portal. He is the second Duke player to transfer from the program after sophomore center Christian Reeves.

The Kansas City, Kan., native was one of Duke's toughest ball defenders, often going up against the opposing team's best forward. He averaged 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season, ranking fourth and second respectively on the team. He has scored at least 20 points five times, with his season-high of 23 coming twice against Notre Dame on Jan. 6 and Wake Forest on Feb. 12.

In the game against the Fighting Irish, Mitchell scored 16 straight goals for the Blue Devils in his most offensive performance of the season. He also had three steals in Duke's second-round NCAA Tournament win against James Madison in an excellent defensive outing. While he struggled to find the same 3-point consistency he had in his freshman year — the lefty shot just 27.5% from beyond the arc — Mitchell was able to get to the rim at will against less athletic teams.

Mitchell has assumed an important role with the Blue Devils since his debut as a freshman, as an injury to then-freshman Darick Whitehead early in the season forced him immediately into the starting lineup. The Sunrise Christian product proved his value, scoring 18 goals in the season opener against Jacksonville, and remained a starter for the rest of the season. The only game Mitchell did not start — or play in — was the team's second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee, in which he suffered an injury before the game.

A major part of head coach John Scheer's first two years at the helm, Mitchell's departure will force the young player to adapt. Duke has a strong recruiting class coming in for next season, but Scheyer may look to the portal himself to find an experienced wing defender like Mitchell.