Date: 10/24
Position: Wing
Returning Letterwinners (Key stats):
Trhae Mitchell, Sr. (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 47.8 FG%, 42.0 3FG%, 64.7 FT%)
Letterwinners lost (Key stats): None
Newcomers (Yr., Hometown/Previous school):
A.C. Kelly (Fr., Allentown, Pa./Scotland Campus Sports/Parkland HS);
KK Curry (Fr., Cleveland, Tenn./Scotland Campus Sports/Cleveland HS);
Deaundrae Ballard (Jr., Florida/Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy)
Miscellaneous Notes
- Mitchell is the first player in school history to lead the team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the same season, and second to have 200 rebounds and 100 assists in one year
- Mitchell finished second in the Sun Belt and 31st in the nation in blocks per game (2.1), and his total of 71 was the second most by a junior in school history and fifth most overall; he blocked eight shots in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament, tied for third in school history and one shy of the record
- Mitchell came up one assist shy of a triple-double against Alabama A&M with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists; it would have been the first by a Jaguar since 1989
- Ballard will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules; he was a top-100 recruit coming out of high school
Richie Riley
- On the biggest reason for Mitchell's improvement: "I think Trhae really developed a passion for the game. He's always been good at basketball – he's athletic, has great size and he's talented – but until last year, I don't think he truly loved the game and had a passion for it. Also, I don't feel like he saw how good he could be. Now he has that vision clearly and his game has really taken off. He's shown as much improvement as any player I've coached. His game has grown leaps and bounds."
- On his expectations for Mitchell: "I hold each player to a high standard and he's probably held to the highest. I have an expectation for him to be a tremendous leader on this team and he's always been an elite defender in this league. I think he's arguably the best on-ball defender in the Sun Belt and in the country. I want him to continue to take that next step offensively like he did last year – he doubled his production from his sophomore to his junior year. He has more potential to do even greater things on the offensive end. Not only scoring the ball but his ability to get other guys involved as well."
- On Curry: "His athleticism is off the charts. He's got to be one of the most athletic players in the country. He's in the process of fine-tuning a lot of his game. He's improving every day, but the great thing about KK is his ceiling is so high. We're not anywhere near where he's going to be as a player. With his athleticism and the motor he plays with, he's going to help us this year."
Trhae Mitchell
- On how he was able to improve so much last year: "Getting more comfortable, having more faith in myself, knowing that my teammates believe in me and Coach (Riley) putting the ball in my hands."
- On how else he can improve: "I really want to improve on my free-throw shooting. I feel like that's going to take me to the next level. I'm working on my mechanics, getting on my toes and not snatching my hand back."
- On Curry: "KK is a really athletic wing. He's very bouncy and strong, and will be a really good defender for us. I'm excited to have him on the floor with me."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—