Former SSU standout Mitchell to play with Pistons in NBA Summer League

Former Shawnee State letterwinner and 2021 NAIA National Championship member Latavious Mitchell, who played for the Bears from the 2020-21 to 2022-23 seasons, has a prime opportunity to show what he can do in front of NBA scouts and executives.

That's because Mitchell, who obtained an opportunity to run with the Detroit Pistons' NBA Summer League roster, will suit up for the Pistons during its summer league stint, which begins on Thursday, July 9 at the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus.

Mitchell, who played a contributing role off of the bench as a true freshman in Shawnee State's 31-2 season in 2021 en route to the NAIA National Championship, broke out with a big 2022-23 season where Mitchell, in his first full year in the starting lineup, averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest on 53.7 percent shooting from the field.

Mitchell then followed Shawnee State alum and SSU head coach DeLano Thomas to Florida Memorial, where Mitchell averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field during the 2023-24 season. In 2024-25, Mitchell averaged a double-double, posting 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and a block per game while also posting a 55.4 percent shooting clip from the field.

This past season, Mitchell competed in Ireland, playing for Ballincollig of the Ireland Super League. He helped lead Ballincollig to a 17-5 overall record, its second Irish Super League title in four years, and a National Cup title as well. Mitchell was, per statistics shared via YouTube by the team's official YouTube channel, a nightly double-double threat.

Mitchell is the latest player to find success in basketball after a stint at Shawnee State.

In addition to Mitchell and the success of four-year Shawnee State letterwinner and 2026 Shawnee State Hall of Famer EJ Onu, Donoven Carlisle and Kyree Elder have enjoyed successful careers overseas, while Chaze Harris, who transferred from Shawnee State to Life (Ga.) and then to NCAA Division I South Alabama, worked out in front of the Orlando Magic organization in June.

Mitchell will play on live streaming or television services four times. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 9 — vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 5:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, Amazon Prime

Sunday, July 12 — vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 p.m., Thomas and Mack Center, Amazon Prime

Monday, July 13 — vs. New York Knicks, 4 p.m., Cox Pavilion, Amazon Prime

Wednesday, July 15 — vs. Phoenix Suns, 6 p.m., Thomas and Mack Center, ESPNU

According to the official NBA website, NBA.com, the top four teams in the NBA Summer League Standings after four games will play in the semifinals on Saturday, July 18 with the NBA Summer League Championship Game to take place on Sunday, July 19. The remaining 26 NBA Summer League squads who don't make the top four will play a fifth game on either Friday, July 17 or Saturday, July 18.