For
Immediate Release:
MITCHELL NAMED TO FIRST I-AAA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM
EDINBURG, TX—Senior guard Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC) of The University of Texas-Pan American men’s basketball team has made history.
Mitchell has been named to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholar-Athlete Team. Mitchell was one of 20 student-athletes honored.
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA Athletic Directors’ Association member institutions were eligible for these prestigious awards. Division I-AAA schools are those members of NCAA Division I that do not sponsor football.
Mitchell completed his two-year career at Texas-Pan American this spring. He currently has a 3.57 grade-point average, is majoring in Marketing, and will graduate in May.
Named to the Academic All-Region VI team this season, Mitchell was named second team All-Independent last year. He led the Broncs in scoring this season, averaging 14.7 points per game, was tied for the team lead with 48 steals, and was second with 97 assists. He broke the single-season record by playing 1,072 minutes, and ranks fourth on the all-time single-season list with 79 three-point field goals and 222 three-point attempts during the 2002-2003 season. He also is tied for fourth on the all-time career list at UTPA with 134 three-point field goals, and is fifth on the all-time career list with 351 three-point attempts.
“I’m honored to receive this award,” said Mitchell. “When I was growing up, my parents were always focused on my doing well in school. It’s an honor to see my name on a team with guys from teams like Creighton that did well in the (NCAA Division I) tournament. My parents always stressed doing well in school and getting my degree.”
Mitchell will graduate on time after
playing two years at
“Kevin is deserving of any award
that he receives,” said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. “He did a great job leading
our team for two years. He will graduate on time, which, in this day and age,
after coming from a junior college, is almost unheard of. Kevin was a Presidential
Scholar coming out of junior college, and he’s continued his great work, which
is an indication of the kind of quality young man he is.”
”Kevin is most deserving of this prestigious honor,” said UTPA Director of Athletics
William J. Weidner. “This award is an outstanding accomplishment for Kevin,
our men’s basketball program, and our entire athletic department, and reflects
positively on the academic achievements of our student-athletes.”
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