The Leicester Riders continue to build their new-look roster for the 2025/26 season as they’ve confirmed the signing of American guard Mike Mitchell Jr. ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Mitchell, a 6’2” combo guard, joins the Riders following a strong two seasons at the University of Minnesota in the prestigious Big Ten conference. During the 2024-25 season, Mitchell posted averages of 8.6 points, alongside 2.5 assists per game for the Gophers.
Prior to transferring to Minnesota, Mitchell played two season at Pepperdine University. As a freshman, he earned a spot on the WCC All-Freshman Team and ranked third in the conference for total assists during the 2021–22 season.
Across his career at Pepperdine, Mitchell led the team in three point percentage, shooting a red hot 44% from distance for the Waves, with averages of 10.2 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Mitchell commented:
“I’m blessed to be able to have this opportunity to come and play for an organisation like the Riders, I’m excited for what the season has in store. I can’t wait to get over to Leicester and meet the fans.”
Mitchell becomes coach Rob Paternostro’s seventh addition to an already exciting roster. The Head Coach added:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mike Mitchell Jr. to our club. Mike is a versatile guard who can play on the ball or off it, he brings a combination of playmaking and shooting that should be a welcome addition to our backcourt.
“From his early development at Pepperdine to his time competing at the highest level in the Big Ten Conference with Minnesota, he’s shown the ability to impact the game in many ways. He’s a proven 3 pt shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble, and we’re excited to see him take the next step with us.”
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