FORT WAYNE, Ind. — As someone who started for his high school team as a freshman, Jordan Mitchell is used to playing against older competition.
This spring is no different.
On the AAU circuit, Mitchell is playing up an age group for the All-Ohio Red program. He’s only going to be a junior next season on the hardwood, but he’s primarily playing against players heading into their senior year.
The thought process is simple: Mitchell wanted to challenge himself by playing against older — and better — competition to improve as a player. All-Ohio Red is part of the Nike EYBL, which is largely viewed as the top AAU circuit.
Mitchell and All-Ohio Red are 7-1 through the first two sessions. He’s a starter for a team that also features Ohio State commit Dane Goodwin in addition to a pair of Michigan State commits: Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier. Mitchell is averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in his role through the first two sessions.
“It’s been a good jump for me,” Mitchell said. “I’m just trying to improve every time, play hard and get more comfortable. It’s making me use everything that I’ve got, use all the strength that I need and getting bigger to be able to compete with these guys.”
A 6-foot-8 wing, Mitchell is one of the top prospects in the 2019 class. He is the No. 37-ranked player in the country, according to 247Sports’ composite, and the top-rated player in Ohio. Mitchell, who played his first two seasons at Gahanna Lincoln, is transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida next season, however.
Mitchell currently holds scholarship offers from Florida, Xavier, Iowa and Ohio State. The Buckeyes were the first school to offer him and they did so in February of his freshman season.
“They like to get me up there as much as I can,” Mitchell said of Ohio State. “They like me coming up to the gym to watch practice and everything, get some shots up. I’ve been there a lot.”
Mitchell said he will be moving to Florida at the end of May, so those quick trips to Ohio State will now happen less frequently. The decision to transfer to Montverde was made with the same thinking as the one to play up an age level this spring on the AAU circuit.
“It just was a great opportunity,” Mitchell said. “They’re like a powerhouse prep school and they develop people and get people closer to their main goals.”
He’s only preparing to enter his junior season, so Mitchell is nowhere close to deciding on a college yet. He said everybody is “contacting me the same” at this point in time. And frankly, as a top-40 prospect, Mitchell’s recruitment has barely even started.
Ohio State figures to stay in this one for a while. Mitchell is a local prospect and the Buckeyes were his first offer.
And it certainly doesn’t hurt Ohio State’s chances Mitchell is playing this spring alongside a future Buckeye. When asked if Goodwin was recruiting him, Mitchell flashed a giant smile before offering a response.
“Yeah, I think he is,” he said.
