Woodstock’s Mitchell Is Sizzling This Summer

Woodstock Academy's Class of 2019 forward Tre Mitchell, a hyper-versatile 6-foot-9 230-pound forward, is being prioritized by Illinois, UConn, Louisville, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Villanova. All six programs are moving at the same frenetic pace to net Mitchell, who head coach Tony Bergeron describes as a transcendent talent with rapidly-growing upside. While Mitchell possesses a skilled interior game, underscored by his innate knack for backing smaller defenders into the post, he's equally adept at dialing in from downtown with a quick release. The McKeesport, Pa. native buried deep jumpers with consistency throughout the 2017-18 campaign, in which he averaged 14 points on a talent-laced team which routinely plays 14 guys comfortably. "Tre is a dangerous offensive weapon with his ability to score in the post like an old school center," said Bergeron, whose program helped launch 32 kids to four year NCAA programs these past two years. "His shooting range extends all the way to the NBA 3-pointer. He's also a phenomenal passer who sees the floor very effectively for a guy of his size." Newly-minted UConn head coach Dan Hurley, eager to resurge a putrid Huskies program which slogged through a 30-35 (16-20 AAC) record in the recently ousted Kevin Ollie's last two seasons, has been a consistent presence in Mitchell's recruitment. At the same rate, Louisville head coach Chris Mack and Notre Dame's Mike Brey have been quite consistent. It's been whittled down to those six right now, with no clear favorite emerging just yet. "Tre led us in rebounding, blocks, he was second in scoring, and he was fourth in assists," said Bergeron. "He had multiple games with 20+ points and 10+ boards. Really, I suppose his best performance was the 22 points and 11 rebound game he put together against Brewster (N.H.) during the quarterfinals of the national tournament. He's just a worker, always has been. A special kid, to say the least." Some describe Mitchell as a veritable basketball old soul. His performance at the NPSI was indicative of this, as he got into the nooks and crannies of the defense and scored on an assortment of feathery hooks from either hand. ... Scotland Campus Sports' Class of 2019 forward Karim Coulibaly was leaving Walmart in Chambersburg, Pa. when he stumbled upon a text message he won't forget anytime soon. It was Rhode Island head coach David Cox, who offered him a scholarship and also said he anticipates watching the Mali, Africa native throughout his senior year. Coulibaly, a hybrid forward with offers from Pitt, Providence, St. John's, St. Joe's Rutgers, South Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and countless others, embodies the multi-positional role. He's 6-foot-9 with a smooth left-handed 3-point stroke. He's capable of guarding the 1-4. Now, working diligently under player development ace Sullivan Brown at Scotland Campus Sports, he's developed a tight handle. The idea of him playing some point forward next season is not far-fetched one single iota. Legendary prep coach Chris Chaney helped create a niche for Coulibaly where he utilized his face-up game and created mismatch issues. Not bad for a kid who, just six years ago, was more focused on pursuing a soccer career. "My older brothers and sister, they both played for the national team in basketball," said Coulibaly, who recalls his friends constantly telling him his height is best suited for basketball and not soccer. "They were doing things I never could have imagined. Traveling on airplanes and playing in tournaments in different countries."