RayQuandis (Ray) Mitchell of Blaine is a classic late bloomer.
He went from scoring 1.8 PPG his junior year to 19.4 as a senior for the Bengals — making a jump in production that you rarely see. With that rise in scoring has come a rise in recruitment, and the 6-foot-3 shooting guard is trying to capitalize on this new attention with a strong extra spring in AAU.
“I’ve worked a lot, gotten smarter, and had a huge role during the high school year that I had to fulfill,” Ray said. “With that happening, I gained more confidence than what I had before. I usually work out about 3 to 4 hours after school with weights, then I start my basketball training with dribbling, shooting and cardio for about two hours.”
Shaye Fields, Ray’s coach this spring with the T.C. Pirates, agreed that there have been large improvements in skill and fitness.
“I think the kid has improved his all-around game on the offensive end,” Shaye said. “Becoming more efficient, shooting at a higher percentage and dedicating more time to the weight room. His athleticism, midrange jumper and versatility on defense stand out.”
College hoops programs Concordia-St. Paul,Washburn, Sioux Falls, Jamestown, NDSCS, Kirkwood CC, Southern Illinois, Bryant and Stratton and more have all shown some level of interest. Ray is planning on visiting Washburn in June and Sioux Falls in late May or early June. He also has some options with prep schools, but that sounds less likely.