Akil Anthony Mitchell (born June 26, 1992) is an American-Panamanian professional basketball player for the Criollos de Caguas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the University of Virginia.

Akil Mitchell
Mitchell in 2022
No. 25 – Criollos de Caguas
PositionCenter / power forward
LeagueBSN
Personal information
Born (1992-06-26) June 26, 1992 (age 31)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
NationalityPanamanian / American
Listed height2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight106 kg (234 lb)
Career information
High schoolCharlotte Christian
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
CollegeVirginia (2010–2014)
NBA draft2014: undrafted
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2015Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2015–2016Olympique Antibes
2016–2017New Zealand Breakers
2017–2018Long Island Nets
2018–2019Boulazac Basket Dordogne
2019–2020Pallacanestro Trieste
2020Hapoel Gilboa Galil
2020–2021Maccabi Rishon LeZion
2021Pınar Karşıyaka
2021–2022Brose Bamberg
2022–2023AEK Athens
2023Grises de Humacao
2023Ningbo Rockets
2024–presentCriollos de Caguas
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

College career edit

 
Mitchell at Virginia in 2013.

Mitchell came to the Virginia from the Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina as a lightly-regarded recruit, choosing the Cavaliers over offers from Navy and George Washington.[1] He had an inconsistent freshman season in 2010–11, but played more than expected after an injury to star Mike Scott.[2]

He joined Scott and classmate Joe Harris in the Cavaliers' starting lineup midway through the 2011–12 season as the trio led the team to a 22–10 record and the program's first NCAA tournament appearance in five years. As a junior the next year, Mitchell averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, earning third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.[3] With more support as a senior, Mitchell's personal statistics declined, but the Cavaliers enjoyed one of their best seasons in years, recording a 30–7 record, winning both the regular-season and ACC tournament championships and earning a top seed in the 2014 NCAA tournament. Mitchell was named to the ACC All-Defensive team and second-team All ACC Tournament.[1]

Collegiate statistics edit

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010–11 Virginia 29 1 15.1 .338 .125 .517 3.0 .8 .6 .2 2.4
2011–12 Virginia 32 15 22.0 .505 .000 .509 4.4 .8 .7 .3 4.1
2012–13 Virginia 35 35 30.5 .545 .000 .693 8.9 1.5 1.3 .4 13.1
2013–14 Virginia 37 36 25.7 .561 .000 .427 7.0 1.2 .8 .6 6.8
Career 133 87 23.8 .519 .090 .570 6.0 1.1 .8 .4 6.9

Professional career edit

After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Mitchell joined the Houston Rockets for the 2014 NBA Summer League. On September 26, 2014, he signed with the Rockets,[4] but was later waived by the team on October 23.[5] On November 2, 2014, he was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Rockets.[6] In 49 games for the Vipers in 2014–15, he averaged 9.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[7]

In July 2015, Mitchell joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[8] On August 13, 2015, he signed with Olympique Antibes for the 2015–16 LNB Pro A season.[9] In 34 games for Antibes, he averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

In July 2016, Mitchell joined the New York Knicks for the 2016 NBA Summer League.[10] On August 30, 2016, he signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the 2016–17 NBL season.[11][12] On January 26, 2017, Mitchell fell to the floor in agony early in the fourth quarter of the Breakers' 94–81 loss to the Cairns Taipans after what seemed to be an innocuous poke to the face while contesting a rebound with Taipans centre Nnanna Egwu resulted in his left eyeball coming out of its socket.[13] Mitchell was taken to Auckland Hospital after the incident, where he was advised by specialists that while there was some damage to the eye, early reports were positive that the injury was not as serious as first feared.[14] Mitchell was later discharged by specialists that night and reported having vision in the eye.[15] On February 7, 2017, he returned to the US to seek further specialist advice on his injured eye.[16] In 25 games for the Breakers, Mitchell averaged 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

On February 24, 2017, Mitchell was acquired by the Long Island Nets of the NBA Development League.[17] In four games for Long Island, he averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

On September 24, 2017, Mitchell signed with the Brooklyn Nets.[18] He was waived by Brooklyn on October 11, 2017.[19]

On August 4, 2018, Mitchell signed with Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the French LNB Pro A.[20]

On July 30, 2019, he signed with Pallacanestro Trieste of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[21]

The 2019–20 season in Italy was cancelled early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But in Israel the season was restored, and Mitchell signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil on May 26, 2020, for the end of the season.[22]

On August 16, 2020, he signed with Maccabi Rishon LeZion in Israel.[23] Mitchell averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds (third in the Israeli Basketball Premier League), 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals (9th) per game, with a .599 field goal percentage (8th).[24]

On July 14, 2021, he signed with Karşıyaka Basket of the Turkish Super League.[25] Mitchell averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

On November 25 of the same year, he signed with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[26]

On August 2, 2022, Mitchell signed with Greek club AEK Athens.[27] In 22 domestic league games, he averaged 12.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, playing around 26 minutes per contest. Additionally, he averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in the club's Basketball Champions League campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals.

On April 29, 2023, he signed a contract with Grises de Humacao of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico.[28]

On March 11, 2024, Mitchell signed with Criollos de Caguas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[29]

National team career edit

In May 2016, Mitchell trialled for the Panama men's national basketball team ahead of the 2016 Centrobasket in June.[30] He made the squad, and in six games for Panama, he averaged 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Doughty, Doug (March 20, 2014). "Lightly recruited Mitchell makes impact at U.Va". Roanoke Times. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Hudtloff, Marty (January 4, 2011). "Freshman Akil Mitchell Steps Up in Mike Scott's Absence". NBC29.com. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  3. ^ Wood, Norm (March 13, 2014). "Unique senior roles for Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell lead to ACC success for top-seed Virginia". The Daily Progress. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rockets Sign Akil Mitchell". NBA.com. September 26, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "Rockets Sign Johnson and Request Waivers on Mitchell". NBA.com. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  6. ^ "RGV VIPERS SET 2014-15 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. November 2, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  7. ^ "Akil Mitchell D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "BROOKLYN NETS ANNOUNCE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER AND SCHEDULE". NBA.com. June 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Antibes Sharks add Akil Mitchell". Sportando.com. August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "Knicks release Orlando summer league roster". NewsDay.com. June 27, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  11. ^ "AMERICAN IMPORT AIMS TO ENTERTAIN". NZBreakers.co.nz. August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  12. ^ Hinton, Marc (August 30, 2016). "New Breakers import forward Akil Mitchell pledges to bring strong defensive mindset". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "New Zealand Breakers forward Akil Mitchell suffers horrific eye injury in NBL match". SMH.com.au. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  14. ^ "Breakers forward Akil Mitchell suffers horrific eye injury, but still has vision". Stuff.co.nz. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  15. ^ Hinton, Marc (January 27, 2017). "NZ Breakers not ruling out Akil Mitchell return after 'miracle' recovery from eye injury". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  16. ^ Hinton, Marc (February 7, 2017). "Breakers forward Akil Mitchell returning to US in major blow to playoffs hopes". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  17. ^ "Akil Mitchell Joins Long Island Nets". NBA.com. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  18. ^ "BROOKLYN NETS SIGN AKIL MITCHELL". NBA.com. September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "BROOKLYN NETS WAIVE THREE PLAYERS". NBA.com. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  20. ^ "Boulazac signs Kenny Chery and Akil Mitchell". Sportando. Retrieved August 5, 2018. [permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Akil Mitchell inks with Pallacanestro Trieste". Sportando. July 30, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  22. ^ "גלבוע/גליל: הושלם הסגל – הפאור פורוורד מיטשל אקיל חתם בגלבוע" (in Hebrew). gilboa-galil.co.il. 26 May 2020.
  23. ^ Carchia, Emiliano (August 16, 2020). "Akil Mitchell joins Maccabi Rishon LeZion". Sportando. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  24. ^ "Israeli Super League - 2020-21 Standings and Stats".
  25. ^ Skerletic, Dario (July 14, 2021). "Pinar Karsiyaka ink Akil Mitchell". Sportando. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Yahyabeyoglu, Fersu (November 25, 2021). "Bamberg tabs Akil Mitchell". Eurobasket. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  27. ^ Carchia, Emiliano (August 2, 2022). "Akil Mitchell joins AEK Athens". Sportando. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  28. ^ Κεφαλάς, Παναγιώτης (2023). "Υπέγραψε στο Πουέρτο Ρίκο ο Ακίλ Μίτσελ της ΑΕΚ!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  29. ^ La Guerra del BSN [@LaGuerraBSN] (March 11, 2024). "#BSNPR OFICIAL: El armador Travis Trice será oficialmente el segundo refuerzo de los Criollos de Caguas tras firmar con la franquicia para la temporada 2024 del BSN. Trice promedió 17.2 PPJ y 7.9 APJ en 20 partidos con los Grises de Humacao en la pasada temporada 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved March 18, 2024 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Akil Mitchell, Tony Bishop y Jamelle Horne se unirán esta semana a la Pre-Selección Mayor". fepaba.com.pa (in Spanish). May 22, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

External links edit