Sara Mitchell has had more than her fair share of setbacks.
Coming out of George Westinghouse, she was the PSAL’s leading scorer and her school’s valedictorian, but had to go to junior college without an offer she was satisfied with. Mitchell chose TCI in Manhattan to continue her career only to learn just weeks before the season that the school would be cutting its basketball programs.
Luckily, the administration at nearby Globe accepted the players from both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, honoring most of their scholarships.
“It actually made me more hungry,” Mitchell said. “Globe wasn’t the school that I originally wanted to go to, but I made the most of it. It made me a lot more determined to get where I wanted to be.”
That place was a four-year school with a full scholarship. And Mitchell’s goal was completed in the spring when she committed to Kings College, a Division II program in Bristol, Tenn. Because she was a qualifier out of high school, Mitchell only had to spend one year at Globe.
The 5-foot-7 combo guard ended up leading NJCAA Division I in scoring, averaging 26.5 points per game. She was sidelined late in the season with a broken hand, though, missing the entire stretch run.
It was another frustrating setback for Mitchell, but while other schools backed away, King left its offer on the table. She committed not long after.
“They stood by my side throughout the whole process,” Mitchell said.
Globe coach Don Pickering and former TCI assistant coach Barkley Johnson, who remained a close advisor, were in contact with Division I schools like North Carolina Central, NJIT, LIU and Delaware State, but none of them pulled the trigger. It didn’t matter to Mitchell. King had her major, sports management, and was a solid academic school.
“I didn’t want to sacrifice the offer I had for something that wasn’t a sure thing,” she said. … “A lot of girls go to school just for the name of it. A lot of girls make the mistake of going D-I just because it’s Division I. They care about what people will think of them instead of just doing what makes them happy. I felt like I needed the complete package.”
King is going through a transition right now from NAIA to NCAA Division II. It was independent last season, but will begin this season in the Carolinas Conference. Mitchell is clearly no stranger to change and with her skill set she should be able to make an impact with the Tornado right away.
She can knock down 3-pointers – she averaged 2.7 per game this season – and get to the basket with equal efficiency. Once she’s at the hoop, Mitchell can finish with her strength and she can also create her own shot off the dribble. She averaged 5.4 assists and shot 76 percent from the foul line.
“There’s nothing that you can’t say about the kid,” Pickering said. “She just wasn’t seen and didn’t get to showcase her talents at the highest level. The kid is a legitimate Division I basketball player. They’re getting a stud. They’re getting a steal. You’re a Division II school walking away with a mid-level Division I player.”
Mitchell had those Division I dreams like many other players. But she’s more than happy with where she’ll play her college basketball.
“King is a good opportunity for me, both academically and athletically,” she said. “In the end, I got what I was looking for.”