BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: SETON HALL

August 30, 2007




TRANSFER ALERT: Robert Mitchell, 6'6 G/F (Duquesne University)


2008-2009 Projected Roster

Seniors: Paul Gause (G), Austin Okosun (C)
Juniors: Eugene Harvey (PG), Larry Davis (SG), John Garcia (C/F), Chukwuma 'Charles' Okwandu (C)
Sophomores: Michael Glover (F), Jeremy Hazell (G/F), Brandon Walters (BF/C), Chris Smith (G), Mike Davis (PF/C), Robert Mitchell (G/F)
Freshmen: Jordan Theodore (PG)


Not only is Seton Hall in the Running for Duquesne Transfer (NJ Star-Ledger), Robert Mitchell, but according to Adam Zagoria, it is a done deal with Mitchell to Seton Hall.

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Robert "Stix" Mitchell, a 6'6, 185-pound sophomore G/F was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year last season at Duquesne after averaging 16 PPG and 5 rebounds playing in Ron Everhart's 40-minutes of chaos system. Mitchell, originally from Brooklyn, has been a basketball vagabond of late, spending one season at Genesis One Christian in Mississippi and the 2005-2007 season at Notre Dame Prep, where he played for Bill Barton, now an assistant at Duquesne, before spending last year in the Steel City.

Mitchell will sit out the 2007-2008 season at Seton Hall and the plan is for him to step into the role that is filled currently by senior Brian Laing, the Pirates very productive small forward. With verbal commitments from Justin Theodore and Chukwuma 'Charles' Okwandu, Mitchell takes the last scholarship that is currently available. However, in his story on Mitchell transferring to Seton Hall, Zagoria mentions there is a chance the 7-2, 235-pound African big man Okwandu could need two more years at Harcum Junior (Pa.) College, meaning he might not join the team until 2009.

Mitchell had some difficulty at Duquesne, being suspended one game for violation of team rules and was criticized by Duquesne coach Ron Everhart for a lack of effort in practice and was dismissed from practice a number of times. After being informed his Leading Scorer Planned to Transfer (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Everhart was not surprised

"[Leaving] wasn't really unexpected. It didn't take me by surprise. But in the big picture I'm more excited about our basketball team and the depth and talent we have than I am disappointed about anyone going."

With Mitchell now on-board, it is unclear if the Pirates will continue to recruit for the class of 2008. They have recently hosted Tyreke Evans, Kevin Jones and Patrick Jackson for unofficial visits in the last couple weeks, but Evans and Jones have always been extremely longshots and Jackson was targeted for a position that now goes to Mitchell. If Okwandu is not going to arrive until 2009, which makes that situation questionable, at best in my opinion, than adding another frontcourt player would probably be a wise move, preferably a freshman to balance the classes, but Bobby Gonzalez never leaves a stone unturned.

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