Penn State Nittany Lions
With Blake Hinson coming back, Pittsburgh isn’t really an option for the local native. The closest other option in the state is Penn State, which has a new head coach. Mike Rhoades brought in a bunch of transfers, including Ace Baldwin Jr. and RayQuawndis Mitchell. The frontcourt has more concerns, with Qudus Wahab and Puff Johnson as the projected starters.
Mitchell would easily be the focal point of the frontcourt and he’s familiar with Coach Rhoades back when UMass faced VCU. This is another close-to-home scenario that would allow him to have a large role in the offense and help the Nittany Lions rebuild quicker than expected.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins had its own first-round pick in starting forward Jaime Jaquez, who was the star of the team last season. He’s gone, along with three other starters. That leaves starting center Adem Bona, who isn’t much of an offensive threat. And right now, only top-100 freshman Devin Williams is really able to play the four-spot.
There’s a big need for someone like Mitchell to come in and be a key piece on the roster. There are multiple incoming international recruits but who knows whether or not they’re able to play at an all-league level. Plus, the opportunity to play in Los Angeles and go up against Bronny James and USC will put him and the team on a big stage in NCAA Basketball next season.