KU forward Mitch Lightfoot officially puts the redshirt in the past

By Matt Tait     Apr 27, 2020

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Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) comes in for a dunk on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Teams practiced and gave interviews to media members before Thursday's opening round games.

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot is ready to get back on the court with his teammates on game nights.

And he found an interesting way to show it.

Back at home, like many other people waiting out the COVID-19 health crisis, the 6-foot-9 senior-to-be who will be back for a fifth season of Kansas basketball next season, posted a video of himself burning a red shirt on his social media channels.

“What’s up KU fans,” Lightfoot said in the video. “I just want to say I’m officially burning the redshirt and am ready for next season.”

The post that accompanied it mentioned that there was “no such thing as too much lighter fluid,” and Lightfoot twice doused the shirt with streams of liquid from a bottle as the garment sat in a fire pit on a patio.

Although he did not play during the 2019-20 season, Lightfoot was a key contributor in practice. His veteran presence and willingness to take on any challenge provided senior All-American Udoka Azubuike with a formidable foe on KU’s famed red squad.

And his basketball intelligence and three seasons of experience enabled him to fill a key role when KU’s rotation players ran against scout team offense and defense in practices.

Lightfoot also regularly pointed out little notes to his teammates during games and in film sessions and continued to put in his own work, on the court and in the weight room, to improve his game.

Although it remains to be seen exactly what role he will have with the 2020-21 team, Lightfoot has positioned himself well to be a regular part of the rotation, as both a physical presence and reliable player.

He also enters the season as one of the best — if not the best — shot blockers on KU’s roster and a player known for his ability to draw charges.

Lightfoot will join David McCormack, Silvio De Sousa and incoming freshman Gethro Muscadin in the KU front court next season.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.