AURORA | A profile look at Smoky Hill senior Rickey Mitchell who is on the roster of Team West for the 1 p.m. A-Town All-Star Boys Game on March 18, 2023, at Eaglecrest High School (purchase tickets, here):
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
RICKEY MITCHELL
School: Smoky Hill High School
Year: Senior
Height: 6-foot-4
2022-23 averages: 23.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.6 steals
Season highlights: The Buffaloes finally broke through the Sweet 16 round of the postseason by reaching the Class 6A Great 8, where they were stopped by eventual state champion Denver East in a tight game at the Denver Coliseum. Smoky Hill’s push came with Mitchell as the driving force, as he performed like the top player in the state on many occasions to help coach Anthony Hardin’s team finish 20-6 overall. Mitchell, an All-Centennial League first team selection, finished second in 6A in scoring average at just under 24 points per game and he scored at least 13 points in every single game he played. His season-high of 40 points came in a big road win at Valor Christian early in the season and he had five other games of better than 30 points (including 38-point outings against Rangeview and Cherokee Trail). Mitchell knocked down the second-most 3-pointers among Aurora players with 59 for a team that made 177 on the season and he also led his team in assists and steals per game, while he ranked second in rebounding. All three of the games in which he had 10 or more rebounds were double-doubles. Mitchell earned selection to the A-Town All-Star Game for the second time, but didn’t get to the play in the game last season when it was canceled.
Mitchell vs. Aurora teams: vs. Rangeview (38 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists); vs. Cherokee Trail (38 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists); vs. Eaglecrest (24 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals)’ vs. Overland (19 points, 6 assists, 3 steals); vs. Grandview (27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists); vs. Overland (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists); vs. Eaglecrest (15 points, 8 rebounds); vs. Grandview (13 points, 7 assists, 4 steals)