Morning Coffee: Donovan Mitchell is killing it as an NBA rookie. Just ask DeMarcus Cousins

Former University of Louisville star Donovan Mitchell is on fire for the Utah Jazz and rapidly playing himself into consideration for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Just ask former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins.

Mitchell dropped 41 points on Cousins' New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, leading Utah to a 114-108 win and earning some praise:

"He dominated from start to finish," Cousins told the Salt Lake Tribune. "... What didn't he do? He had a hell of a game. Super impressive coming from a rookie, such a young guy. To be that poised and control the game the way he did, very impressive."

In four games prior to Utah's late Monday night game against Washington, Mitchell averaged 26.25 points on 36-for-69 shooting (52.2 percent), including a 13-for-27 effort from 3-point range to go along with four assists per game.

Mitchell was already on a record-breaking pace, and with that 41-point effort joined some select NBA company.

Such exploits are a clear confirmation of Mitchell's decision to turn pro after last season. He's a rising NBA superstar who'll be carrying U of L's banner, which is something the Cards' program has lacked recently.

Social Hour

All the South Florida feels:

Lamar Jackson gives a shoutout to fellow Miami-area product Sony Michel, a running back on Georgia's SEC title team.

And UK coach Mark Stoops was in Fort Myers on the recruiting trail with Shocky Jacques-louis, a wide receiver prospect who recently decommitted from Tennessee. Gotta love this picture:

What We're Reading

► So UK has a bowl game the same day as the men's basketball game against Kentucky. Good luck with that, Music City Bowl.

► This was quite an amazing season for Trinity's quarterback. No, really.

► It's looking like FSU has a coach picked out to replace the departed Jimbo Fisher, and he's a familiar one to WKU fans.

► A Jim Harbaugh Twitter feud? Oh, yes, please.

For The Road

In the SEC, it just means more:

And yes, those do happen to be pitchforks on the backdrop behind new Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards.

Gentry Estes: 502-582-4205; gestes@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Gentry_Estes. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/gentrye