Born in Howard County, Indiana, Kitchel grew up in a rural part of Cass County, Indiana, honing his skills on a makeshift court in a tool shed. As a senior, Kitchel led tiny Lewis Cass High School to a 20–0 regular season record and its first sectional title in 1978. Kitchel averaged 26.2 points and 13 rebounds per game as he was graduated as the school's leading scorer.[1]
The next two seasons, Kitchel became one of the stars of the Hoosiers. He averaged 19.6 and 17.3 points per game as a junior and senior, leading the team in scoring in 1981–82 and finishing second to Randy Wittman his senior year. Kitchel was named All-Big Ten and All-America both years as he led the Hoosiers to NCAA Tournament appearances in each season.[2]
In the Summer following his junior year, Kitchel and IU teammate Jim Thomas were named to the USA men's national team for the 1982 FIBA World Championship in Cali, Colombia. Kitchel played in six of the team's nine games, averaging 2.2 points per game as the Americans earned a silver medal, losing to the Soviet Union by a single point in the final.[3]
Following his college career, Kitchel was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1983 NBA draft (41st pick overall),[4] but did not make the final roster. Kitchel played professionally in Italy.[5]
Since the end of his playing days, Kitchel has remained a familiar face to IU fans as color commentator for Indiana games on regional television.