Recruiting Report: Martin Mitchell (2016)
Update on 9/15/15 from Alex Conover The exchanges we have with Martin Mitchell (Eastview/WOTN wing) are always enjoyable. The kid is simply really well-spoken to go along with his intelligent playing style. That makes me even more pleased when I…
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Continue ReadingUpdate on 9/15/15 from Alex Conover
The exchanges we have with Martin Mitchell (Eastview/WOTN wing) are always enjoyable. The kid is simply really well-spoken to go along with his intelligent playing style. That makes me even more pleased when I find out that he has made some really good progress in picking a college since we last checked in.
“I visited SJU a couple weeks ago and was really impressed,” Mitchell told NHR. “I felt welcomed by the coaching staff and loved the feel of the campus. I also went up to Augsburg for open gym last week. It was my second time visiting campus and I had a great time! I met and ran with the guys and saw some familiar faces like Chase Seiberlich (Eagan alum), Kevin McKiernan (Prior Lake alum) and Harry Sonie (Apple Valley alum). Games were intense and competitive, and it was good to get an idea of what practices are like.”
Martin sees SJU and Augsburg as a solid top two at the moment. There are others that could jump in, however.
“I’ve been planning on visiting Concordia-Moorhead for a while now,” Mitchell added, “so I’ll be heading up there to see campus in the next month or so. I’m also planning on getting to some open gyms at Gustavus and St. Olaf. Other than that, it’s definitely nice to narrow things down a bit.
“At first I didn’t think I’d ever be able to make a decision, just because I was so impressed with every school I saw. But at this point in the process, it’s definitely becoming clear which schools are the best fits for me.”
There is a bit of a location factor in Mitchell’s decision, which makes the MIAC the perfect conference for him. No school is more than 3.5 hours from the Twin Cities area.
“I would say the distance from home is a factor,” Mitchell said. “Just the comfort of being able to come home for whatever reason in a day’s notice would be nice. I value a tight-knit community surrounding as well.”
Update from 6/11/15 by Alex Conover
We’ve known Martin Mitchell as a capable contributor to Eastview hoops for a few years now. After making the switch from Fury to Wear Out The Net this spring, Martin has played his way into the recruiting boards of several area Division III schools, with more undoubtedly to come.
“I've heard from Gustavus, St. Olaf, Bethel, Augsburg, Concordia-Moorhead, UW-River Falls, U of Chicago, UW-Eau Claire, Carthage and Crown College,” Mitchell said. “As far as the U of Chicago, I'd need to improve on my ACT score to be admitted, but I take pride in my schoolwork. It's my No. 1 priority.”
Martin’s been doing some thinking on what’s most important to him in a college.
“I wouldn't say location is a big factor,” Mitchell said. “I'm looking for a balance between good basketball and good education. Mostly I want to contribute to the success of a team and program. I don't care about the level, but I want a close knit squad and I want to be pushed as a player and a person.”
Mitchell has visited Gustavus, St. Olaf and Upper Iowa already, and he likes the small-town, “high school” feel of those smaller campuses. He anticipates visiting Concordia-Moorhead and Augsburg fairly soon.
Once he gets back into grassroots play in late June, he’ll have a chance to garner even more interest. He joins several other prospects on WOTN Nicols who are popular recruits in the D2 and D3 circles.
“WOTN is a great group of guys who I see being friends and guys to compete with through college,” Mitchell said. The team all plays for each other, and we all have each other's backs… no one lets anyone dog it. Everyone is constantly pushing each other to work harder. Also, Coach Nicols is awesome, I love that guy. He’s an amazing coach but he is also an exceptional friend, mentor, and supporter first.”