Barry Mitchell (basketball) facts for kids
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 28, 1965 Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American /Belgian |
| Died | December 17, 2025 (aged 60) |
| High school | First Colonial (Virginia Beach, Virginia) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Norfolk State (1983–1987) |
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1987–2014 |
| Career history | |
| 1987–1988 | Wyoming Wildcatters |
| 1988–1990 | Youngstown Pride |
| 1991–1994 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1994–1999 | Sunair Oostende |
| 1999–2000 | Siemens Gent |
| 2001–2002 | Liège |
| 2002–2003 | Nantes |
| 2013–2014 | BC Alleur |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Barry Jeffrey Mitchell (born April 28, 1965 – died December 17, 2025) was a talented American professional basketball player. He was known for his amazing skills on the court, playing as a forward for many teams during his long career.
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College Career
Barry Mitchell grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He went to First Colonial High School where he was a fantastic basketball player. He was so good that he earned "All-State honors," meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in the entire state!
After high school, Barry went to Norfolk State University. There, he studied physical education and continued to play basketball for the Norfolk State Spartans. His college team played in NCAA Division II, which is a high level of college sports, and competed in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
During his four years at Norfolk State, Barry played in 119 games. He scored a total of 1,631 points and grabbed 928 rebounds. He also made 502 assists and 235 steals. These numbers show he was a very well-rounded player!
Barry even achieved two "triple-doubles" in his career. A triple-double is when a player gets double-digit numbers (10 or more) in three different stats in one game, like points, rebounds, and assists. For example, in February 1987, he had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in one game, and 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in another!
He was a leader for his team, leading in rebounds for three years in a row (1984-1987). He also led in assists in his last two seasons and was the top player for steals in his final year. Because of his excellent play, Barry was chosen for the All-CIAA Team three times in a row, from 1985 to 1987.
Professional Career
After college, Barry was eligible for the 1987 NBA draft, where professional teams pick new players. Even though he wasn't chosen by an NBA team, he didn't give up! He started his professional journey with the Wyoming Wildcatters in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).
In his first pro season, he played 52 games, showing off his skills with an average of 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. His team made it to the CBA finals, which is a big achievement, though they didn't win the championship that year.
Next, Barry joined the Youngstown Pride in the World Basketball League (WBL). This league had a special rule: only players 6 feet 5 inches tall or shorter could play. Barry thrived here! He helped his team win two championships in a row, in 1989 and 1990. He was also named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, showing he was the best player in the league! Plus, he was recognized for his great defense, making the All-Defensive team three times.
In 1991, Barry returned to the CBA and joined the Quad City Thunder. He quickly made an impact, helping his team reach the finals again, though they didn't win that time.
Becoming a Star in the CBA
The 1991–92 CBA season was Barry Mitchell's most outstanding year. He played in 55 games, starting most of them. He averaged an impressive 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He was so good at stealing the ball that he led the entire CBA in steals!
Barry wasn't just a great scorer; he was also an amazing defender. He was named both the CBA's Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. This was a very special achievement, as he was the first player in CBA history to win both awards in the same season! He also made the All-CBA First Team and the All-Defensive Team.
Barry continued to play for the Quad City Thunder for two more seasons. In the 1993–94 season, he helped lead the Thunder to their very first CBA Championship! This was a huge victory for the team and a highlight of Barry's career.
Quad City Thunder Records
Barry Mitchell became one of the most successful players in Quad City Thunder history. He holds several team records:
- He is the all-time leader in steals with 338.
- He ranks 2nd in total points scored (2,226).
- He is 2nd in minutes played (5,203).
- He ranks 3rd in games played (139).
- He is 3rd in total rebounds (962).
- He ranks 4th in assists (668).
These records show how important he was to the team!
Playing Basketball in Europe
In 1994, Barry decided to move to Europe to play basketball. He joined a Belgian team called Sunair Oostende. He played there for several years, until 1999. During his time in Belgium, he helped his team win the Belgian league championship in 1995. They also won the Belgian Cup twice, in 1997 and 1998.
After Oostende, Barry played for other European teams, including Siemens Gent in Belgium and Liège Basket. He also played for a French team called Nantes in 2002.
Later in his career, in 2013–14, he played for B.C. Alleur in Belgium.
Personal Life
Barry Mitchell had a son named Ajay Mitchell. Ajay followed in his father's footsteps and also became a professional basketball player.
Remembering Barry Mitchell
Barry Mitchell passed away on December 17, 2025, at the age of 60. He will be remembered as a talented and dedicated basketball player who achieved great success both in the United States and in Europe.
