Akil Mitchell

File:Akil Mitchell.jpg

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.{{cite web | last = Doughty | first = Doug | title = Lightly recruited Mitchell makes impact at U.Va. | work = Roanoke Times | date = March 20, 2014 | url = http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/acc/lightly-recruited-mitchell-makes-impact-at-u-va/article_c62c6907-bb3a-50fb-a758-4bf6b84d3835.html?mode=jqm | accessdate = October 7, 2014}} He had an inconsistent freshman season in 2010–11, but played more than expected after an injury to star Mike Scott.{{cite web | last = Hudtloff | first = Marty | title = Freshman Akil Mitchell Steps Up in Mike Scott's Absence | work = NBC29.com | date = January 4, 2011 | url = http://www.nbc29.com/story/13777848/freshman-akil-mitchell-steps-up-in-mike-scotts-absense | accessdate = October 7, 2014}}

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.{{cite web | last = Wood | first = Norm | title = Unique senior roles for Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell lead to ACC success for top-seed Virginia | work = The Daily Progress | date = March 13, 2014 | url = https://www.dailypress.com/2014/03/13/unique-senior-roles-for-joe-harris-and-akil-mitchell-lead-to-acc-success-for-top-seed-virginia/ | access-date = October 7, 2014}} 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.

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia

| 29 || 1 || 15.1 || .338 || .125 || .517 || 3.0 || .8 || .6 || .2 || 2.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia

| 32 || 15 || 22.0 || .505 || .000 || .509 || 4.4 || .8 || .7 || .3 || 4.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia

| 35 || 35 || 30.5 || .545 || .000 || .693 || 8.9 || 1.5 || 1.3 || .4 || 13.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia

| 37 || 36 || 25.7 || .561 || .000 || .427 || 7.0 || 1.2 || .8 || .6 || 6.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 133 || 87 || 23.8 || .519 || .090 || .570 || 6.0 || 1.1 || .8 || .4 || 6.9

{{S-end}}

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-sign-akil-mitchell|title=Rockets Sign Akil Mitchell|work=NBA.com|date=September 26, 2014|accessdate=October 7, 2014}} but was later waived by the team on October 23.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-sign-johnson-and-request-waivers-mitchell|title=Rockets Sign Johnson and Request Waivers on Mitchell|work=NBA.com|date=October 23, 2014|accessdate=October 23, 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/riograndevalley/201415TrainingCampRoster.html |title=RGV VIPERS SET 2014-15 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER |work=NBA.com |date=November 2, 2014 |accessdate=November 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106214905/http://www.nba.com/dleague/riograndevalley/201415TrainingCampRoster.html |archivedate=November 6, 2014 }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/dleague/players/m/mitchak01d.html|title=Akil Mitchell D-League Stats|work=Basketball-Reference.com|accessdate=August 29, 2016}}

In July 2015, Mitchell joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2015 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nets/news/brooklyn-nets-announce-summer-league-roster-and-schedule-2015|title=BROOKLYN NETS ANNOUNCE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER AND SCHEDULE|work=NBA.com|date=June 29, 2016|accessdate=August 29, 2016}} On August 13, 2015, he signed with Olympique Antibes for the 2015–16 LNB Pro A season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/172614/antibes-sharks-add-akil-mitchell.html|title=Antibes Sharks add Akil Mitchell|work=Sportando.com|date=August 13, 2015|accessdate=August 13, 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/knicks-release-orlando-summer-league-roster-1.11977323|title=Knicks release Orlando summer league roster|work=NewsDay.com|date=June 27, 2015|accessdate=August 29, 2016}} On August 30, 2016, he signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the 2016–17 NBL season.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzbreakers.co.nz/news/american-import-will-entertain-says-breakers-head-coach/|title=AMERICAN IMPORT AIMS TO ENTERTAIN|work=NZBreakers.co.nz|date=August 30, 2016|accessdate=August 30, 2016}}{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/83712515/nz-breakers-sign-206cm-import-akil-mitchell-to-complete-roster|title=New Breakers import forward Akil Mitchell pledges to bring strong defensive mindset|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=August 30, 2016|accessdate=August 30, 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/new-zealand-breakers-forward-akil-mitchell-suffers-horrific-eye-injury-in-nbl-match-20170126-gtzj6w.html|title=New Zealand Breakers forward Akil Mitchell suffers horrific eye injury in NBL match|work=SMH.com.au|date=January 26, 2017|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/88814996/breakers-forward-akil-mitchell-suffers-horrific-eye-injury|title=Breakers forward Akil Mitchell suffers horrific eye injury, but still has vision|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=January 26, 2017|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} Mitchell was later discharged by specialists that night and reported having vision in the eye.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/88828291/nz-breakers-not-ruling-out-akil-mitchell-return-after-miracle-recovery-from-eye-injury|title=NZ Breakers not ruling out Akil Mitchell return after 'miracle' recovery from eye injury|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=January 27, 2017|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} On February 7, 2017, he returned to the US to seek further specialist advice on his injured eye.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/89140284/breakers-forward-akil-mitchell-returning-to-united-states-will-miss-season-finale|title=Breakers forward Akil Mitchell returning to US in major blow to playoffs hopes|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=February 7, 2017|accessdate=February 7, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/akil-mitchell-joins-long-island-nets/|title=Akil Mitchell Joins Long Island Nets|work=NBA.com|date=February 24, 2017|accessdate=February 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226131021/http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/akil-mitchell-joins-long-island-nets/|archive-date=February 26, 2017|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nets/news/2017/09/24/brooklyn-nets-sign-akil-mitchell|title=BROOKLYN NETS SIGN AKIL MITCHELL|work=NBA.com|date=September 24, 2017|accessdate=September 25, 2017}} He was waived by Brooklyn on October 11, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nets/news/2017/10/11/brooklyn-nets-waive-three-players|title=BROOKLYN NETS WAIVE THREE PLAYERS|work=NBA.com|date=October 11, 2017|accessdate=October 11, 2017}}

On August 4, 2018, Mitchell signed with Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the French LNB Pro A.{{cite web |title=Boulazac signs Kenny Chery and Akil Mitchell |url=https://archive.sportando.basketball/en/france/pro-a/284642/boulazac-signs-kenny-chery-and-akil-mitchell.html |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 5, 2018 }}

On July 30, 2019, he signed with Pallacanestro Trieste of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/akil-mitchell-inks-with-pallacanestro-trieste/|title=Akil Mitchell inks with Pallacanestro Trieste|date=July 30, 2019|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=August 23, 2019}}

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.{{cite web |title=גלבוע/גליל: הושלם הסגל – הפאור פורוורד מיטשל אקיל חתם בגלבוע |url=http://www.gilboa-galil.co.il/news?NewsId=2813 |publisher=gilboa-galil.co.il |date=26 May 2020 |language=Hebrew }}

On August 16, 2020, he signed with Maccabi Rishon LeZion in Israel.{{cite news |title=Akil Mitchell joins Maccabi Rishon LeZion |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/akil-mitchell-joins-maccabi-rishon-lezion/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 16, 2020 |date=August 16, 2020|last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }} 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).{{Cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/israel-super-league/2021.html | title=Israeli Super League - 2020-21 Standings and Stats }}

On July 14, 2021, he signed with Karşıyaka Basket of the Turkish Super League.{{cite news |title=Pinar Karsiyaka ink Akil Mitchell |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/pinar-karsiyaka-ink-akil-mitchell/ |website=Sportando |access-date=July 14, 2021 |date=July 14, 2021|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }} 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).{{cite web |last1=Yahyabeyoglu |first1=Fersu |title=Bamberg tabs Akil Mitchell |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/news/717884/Bamberg-tabs-Akil-Mitchell |website=Eurobasket |access-date=November 25, 2021 |date=November 25, 2021}}

On August 2, 2022, Mitchell signed with Greek club AEK Athens.{{cite news |title=Akil Mitchell joins AEK Athens |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/akil-mitchell-joins-aek-athens/ |website=Sportando |access-date=August 2, 2022 |date=August 2, 2022|last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Κεφαλάς |first1=Παναγιώτης |title=Υπέγραψε στο Πουέρτο Ρίκο ο Ακίλ Μίτσελ της ΑΕΚ! |url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/basket/akil-mitsel-upegrapse-sto-pouerto-riko/4880738 |website=sport-fm.gr |access-date=30 April 2023 |location=Online |language=Greek |date=2023}}

On September 7, 2023, Mitchell signed with Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).{{cite web |title=<官宣>欢迎阿基尔·米切尔 |url=https://weibo.com/7557035780/NidP4x1zo |website=@宁波富邦男篮俱乐部的微博 - 微博 |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=7 September 2023}} On January 14, 2024, his contract was terminated.{{cite web |title=宁波富邦篮球俱乐部与阿基尔·米切尔正式解约 |url=https://weibo.com/7557035780/NBQOq2i6L |website=@宁波富邦男篮俱乐部的微博 - 微博 |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=14 January 2024}}

On March 11, 2024, Mitchell signed with Criollos de Caguas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.{{cite tweet|author=La Guerra del BSN|title=#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.|number=1767191243052732830|user=LaGuerraBSN|date=March 11, 2024|access-date=March 18, 2024}}

On July 5, 2024, Mitchell signed with Yokohama B-Corsairs of the B.League.{{cite web |title=アキル・ミッチェル選手 2024-25シーズン 選手契約締結(新規)のお知らせ |url=https://b-corsairs.com/news/team_20240705_6/ |publisher=横浜ビー・コルセアーズ |access-date=29 September 2024 |date=5 July 2024}} On September 1, his contract was terminated at his request.{{cite web |title=アキル・ミッチェル選手 契約解除のお知らせ |url=https://b-corsairs.com/news/team_20240901_0/ |publisher=横浜ビー・コルセアーズ |access-date=29 September 2024 |date=1 September 2024}}

On September 19, 2024, Mitchell signed with Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).{{cite web |title=青岛男篮签约大前锋外援米切尔 上赛季效力于宁波队 |url=https://www.qdxin.cn/xin/2024/343208.html |website=信网 |access-date=3 October 2024 |date=19 September 2024}} On November 5, he left Qingdao Eagles, replaced by Jordan Mickey.{{cite web |title=青岛男篮更换内线外援，米切尔被裁前凯尔特人悍将已到队 |url=https://news.bandao.cn/a/1730813013083733.html |website=半岛网 |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=5 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=青岛国信男篮更换"大外援"，乔丹·米奇正式加盟 |url=https://www.guanhai.com.cn/p/350488.html |publisher=观海新闻 |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=6 November 2024}}

On November 10, 2024, Mitchell signed with the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the 2024–25 PBA Commissioner's Cup and the 2024–25 East Asia Super League.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/meralco-bolts-bring-in-akil-mitchell-as-pba-import-a1374-20241110 |title=Meralco Bolts bring in well-travelled Akil Mitchell as import |website=spin.ph |date=November 10, 2024 |accessdate=November 12, 2024 }}

In May 2016, Mitchell trialled for the Panama men's national basketball team ahead of the 2016 Centrobasket in June.{{cite web|url=http://fepaba.com.pa/wp/index.php/2016/05/22/akil-mitchell-y-tony-bishop-se-uniran-esta-semana-a-la-pre-seleccion-mayor/|title=Akil Mitchell, Tony Bishop y Jamelle Horne se unirán esta semana a la Pre-Selección Mayor|work=fepaba.com.pa|date=May 22, 2016|accessdate=August 29, 2016|language=Spanish}} 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.

{{reflist}}

• {{FIBA|new_id=220093}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230427223820/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/pid/124679/_//players.html archive])
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180110000059/http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/akil_mitchell_791221.html Akil Mitchell] at Virginia Cavaliers (archived)
• "[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/basketball/news/article.cfm?c_id=21&objectid=11714765 Breakers import doesn't want to run into Aussies]" at The New Zealand Herald
• [https://www.lnb.fr/elite/joueur/?id=5377 Akil Mitchell] at LNB Élite {{in lang|fr}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Akil}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:AEK B.C. players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in China

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in New Zealand

Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Philippines

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey

Category:American men's 3x3 basketball players

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American sportspeople of Panamanian descent

Category:Bamberg Baskets players

Category:Basketball players from Charlotte, North Carolina

Category:Big3 players

Category:Boulazac Basket Dordogne players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Charlotte Christian School alumni

Category:Criollos de Caguas basketball players

Category:Grises de Humacao players

Category:Hapoel Gilboa Galil players

Category:Karşıyaka basketball players

Category:Lega Basket Serie A players

Category:Long Island Nets players

Category:Maccabi Rishon LeZion basketball players

Category:Meralco Bolts players

Category:Naturalized citizens of Panama

Category:New Zealand Breakers players

Category:Ningbo Rockets players

Category:Olympique Antibes basketball players

Category:Pallacanestro Trieste players

Category:Panamanian men's basketball players

Category:Philippine Basketball Association imports

Category:Power forwards

Category:Qingdao Eagles players

Category:Rio Grande Valley Vipers players

Category:Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball players