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Byline: KATE HAIROPOULOS


DENTON — Tony Mitchell did not end up at Missouri, one of college basketball’s current glamour teams, ranked No. 4 in the nation, as he originally planned.

But now back on the court after a season and a half away from the game as he worked to earn NCAA eligibility, the Pinkston graduate is not quite toiling in obscurity at North Texas.

It may not have been the spectacle of Kansas-Missouri, no ESPN or CBS showcase, but last week’s Sun Belt showdown with Middle Tennessee, thanks to the 6-8, 235-pound freshman, drew more than 20 NBA scouts and personnel to the Super Pit.

The size of the student section and local enthusiasm is burgeoning, too, with Mean Green fans wearing “Vote 4 Tony” stickers as part of the athletic department’s campaign to capitalize on perhaps one of the most talented players to star for UNT.

Mitchell, 19, a versatile impact-maker, makes jolting blocks on defense, hustles relentlessly on the glass and hits 3-pointers and dunks on offense.

Just 14 games into his career, he’s already the centerpiece of the Mean Green (13-10, 6-5 Sun Belt Conference). Wearing No. 13, he bounds off the bench last as the starting lineup is announced, thumping his chest to the rowdiest applause..

“We’ve had several 20-win seasons, but he’s created a type of buzz — he’s the kind of player people want to come watch play,” UNT coach Johnny Jones said. “Whey they see him, they go out and spread the word. And the next time, they come back with a friend. They want to witness this because I don’t think they’ve ever had a player of the magnitude of Tony.”

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