Barry Mitchell (basketball) facts for kids

Barry Mitchell (born April 28, 1965) is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was known as a forward, a player who scores points and gets rebounds. He had a long career, playing in different leagues both in the United States and in Europe.

Barry Mitchell's Basketball Journey

College Days

Barry Mitchell grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He went to First Colonial High School. There, he was a fantastic basketball player. He even earned "All-State honors," meaning he was one of the best players in the entire state.

After high school, Barry went to Norfolk State University. He studied physical education while playing basketball.

Playing for Norfolk State

Norfolk State was part of the NCAA Division II at the time. This is a level of college sports below the top Division I. They played in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) league.

Barry played for four years at Norfolk State. He played in 119 games. He scored a total of 1,631 points. He also grabbed 928 rebounds and made 502 assists. Rebounds are when you get the ball after a missed shot. Assists are passes that lead directly to a score. He also had 235 steals, which is when you take the ball from an opponent.

He achieved something special called a "triple-double" twice. A triple-double means getting at least 10 in three different stats in one game. Barry had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in one game. In another, he had 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists!

Barry was a top player for his team. He led them in rebounds for three years in a row. He also led in assists in his last two years. He was the steals leader in his final year. Because of his great play, he was named to the All-CIAA Team three times.

Becoming a Pro Player

After college, Barry was ready for the pros. He could have been picked in the 1987 NBA draft. This is where NBA teams choose new players. But no NBA team picked him. So, he decided to play in a different league.

Starting in the CBA

Barry joined the Wyoming Wildcatters in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). This was a professional league in the U.S. In his first year, he played 52 games. He averaged about 8 points and 5 rebounds per game. His team made it to the CBA finals. They lost, but Barry played very well in the playoffs.

Success in the WBL

Next, Barry joined the Youngstown Pride. This team played in the World Basketball League (WBL). This league had a special rule: players had to be 6 feet 5 inches tall or shorter. Barry was 6 feet 5 inches, so he fit right in!

He had huge success in the WBL. He helped his team win the championship twice, in 1989 and 1990. He was also named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice! This means he was the best player in the league. He was also named to the All-Defensive team three times. This shows he was great at stopping opponents.

Shining with Quad City Thunder

In 1991, Barry returned to the CBA. He joined the Quad City Thunder. He quickly became a key player.

The 1991–92 season was his best. He started almost every game. He averaged over 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and nearly 3 steals per game. He led the entire CBA in steals! He was so good that he won two big awards: the league's Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. He was the first player in CBA history to win both awards in the same year!

He played two more seasons with the Thunder. In 1994, he led the team to their first-ever CBA Championship! They won against the Omaha Racers.

Barry Mitchell became a legend for the Quad City Thunder. He holds many team records. He is the all-time leader in steals. He is also second in points and minutes played. He is third in games played and rebounds. He is fourth in assists.

Playing Overseas in Europe

In 1994, Barry decided to play basketball in Europe. He signed with a Belgian team called Sunair Ostende. He played there for several years until 1999. While in Belgium, he helped his team win the Belgian league championship once in 1995. They also won the Belgian Cup twice, in 1997 and 1998.

After Oostende, he played for other European teams. He played for Siemens Gent in 1999–2000. He also played for Liège in 2001–02. Then, he moved to a French team called Nantes in 2002. He played 15 games there.

Later, in 2013–14, he played for B.C. Alleur. This was in a lower league in Belgium.

Life After Basketball

Barry Mitchell has a son named Ajay Mitchell. Ajay also plays college basketball. He plays for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.