Barry Mitchell (basketball) facts for kids
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 28, 1965 Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| 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 Mitchell (born on April 28, 1965) is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was known for his skills as a forward.
Contents
College Basketball Journey
Barry Mitchell grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He went to First Colonial High School where he was a fantastic basketball player. He even earned special honors for his skills across the state.
After high school, Barry went to Norfolk State University. He studied physical education there. During his four years, he played 119 games for the Norfolk State team. He scored a total of 1,631 points and grabbed 928 rebounds. He also made 502 assists and 235 steals.
Barry was especially good at getting rebounds. He led his team in rebounds for three years in a row, from 1984 to 1987. He also led the team in assists and steals in his final years. Because of his great performance, he was named to the All-CIAA Team three times.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, Barry Mitchell was ready for the professional leagues. Even though he wasn't picked in the 1987 NBA draft, he joined the Wyoming Wildcatters in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). In his first year, his team made it to the CBA finals.
Playing in the World Basketball League
Next, Barry joined the Youngstown Pride in the World Basketball League (WBL). This league was special because it only allowed players who were 6 feet 5 inches tall or shorter. Barry had a lot of success here. He helped his team win the championship twice, in 1989 and 1990. He was also named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) two times. Plus, he was recognized for his strong defense, being named to the All-Defensive team three times.
Returning to the CBA with Quad City Thunder
In 1991, Barry returned to the CBA and joined the Quad City Thunder. He quickly became a key player for the team. The 1991–92 season was his best in the CBA. He averaged over 20 points per game and led the entire league in steals.
Barry was so good that year, he won two major awards: the CBA's Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. This was the first time in CBA history that one player won both awards! He was also chosen for the All-CBA First Team and the All-Defensive Team.
He played two more seasons with the Thunder. In 1994, he helped lead the team to their first-ever CBA Championship. Barry Mitchell is still remembered as one of the best players for the Quad City Thunder. He holds the team record for most steals and ranks high in points, minutes played, games played, rebounds, and assists.
Playing in Europe
In 1994, Barry decided to play basketball in Europe. He signed with a Belgian team called Sunair Oostende. He played there for several years and achieved more success. He helped his team win the Belgian league championship in 1995. They also won the Belgian Cup twice, in 1997 and 1998.
After Oostende, he played for other European teams, including Siemens Gent in Belgium and Nantes in France. He continued to play professionally until 2014, finishing his career with BC Alleur in Belgium's lower leagues.
Family Life
Barry Mitchell has a son named Ajay Mitchell. Ajay followed in his father's footsteps and also became a basketball player. He played college basketball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. As of July 2025, Ajay plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.
