Mountain West Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

6. Matt Mitchell

Mitchell is a 6’6 wing from Riverside, California who certainly played a major role in San Diego State’s success. Between 2017 and 2021, he did some pretty great things for an Aztec program that had a few incredible moments during that span, becoming a menace on both sides of the ball.

As a freshman, Mitchell was already averaging double-digit points per game and would help lead the Aztecs to the MWC Tournament title and his first trip to the Big Dance. He’d put up decent figures during each season, though junior stands out for both him and the program. Mitchell played a big role in San Diego State finishing 30-2 in the pandemic-shortened season and would then average 15.4 points and 5.6 rebounds as a senior the following year.

After earning First Team All-MWC honors during that historic junior season, Mitchell really stood out as a senior. He was named MWC Player of the Year, and Tournament MVP, and secured a place on the All-Defense team. His contributions were significant on both sides of the ball for San Diego State, an elite defensive program that appreciated his offensive contributions. He was a great free throw shooter, an impressive defensive player, and will be remembered by the Aztecs for years to come.