After almost quitting basketball, Michelle Mitchell re-writing Columbus State record book

To watch Columbus State guard Michelle Mitchell play now, it is difficult to imagine that just a couple of years ago Mitchell had decided she didn't want to play the game any longer.

Mitchell grew up wanting to run track but tried out for the middle school basketball team in Dodge County (Eastman, Ga.) Her coach told her she wasn't good enough.

That rejection inspired her and she went to an outstanding career at Dodge County High.

Mitchell had interest from several Division I programs, but she went to Darton State College in Albany, Ga., after she just missed scoring high enough on her SAT. At Darton, she earned all-American honors while leading the team to the national tournament for the first time in more than a decade. From Darton, she choose Troy to continue her college career.

But her time at Troy was not the best.

"At that time I didn't think I was going to play basketball anymore," Mitchell said in a news release.

"I was tired and wanted to focus on something else. When I got to Troy, it took me over for awhile and I knew I had to leave."

CSU coach Jonathan Norton said in a news release, "For Michelle it's all about basketball and school, and it wasn't that way where she was at. There was a lot of pressure for her to have a good time. That put a sour taste in her mouth, but now I think she's re-found that love in the last two years."

Mitchell and the Lady Cougars open the Peach Belt Conference tournament Sunday when they host Flagler at 2 p.m. at the Lumpkin Center. CSU won its second straight PBC regular-season championship with its win over Clayton State on Wednesday.

Working hard

Mitchell has already re-written a portion of the CSU record book despite her career lasting just two seasons.

She is in the top seven in seven career categories, including first in points per game (19.97) and field goals made (477).

Norton said Mitchell has certainly taken the program to another level.

"She has taken us from having success to making it to the conference tournament to taking us to where we not only can compete for the regular season and tournament championships in the Peach Belt but to where we can compete on a national level," he said.

"She does it a variety of ways, scoring, rebounding, defense, you name it.

"She is just a special player, who comes around once in a awhile."

Norton said it is her work ethic that has led to her success.

"She sets that example because she is always in the gym," Norton said. "She is first in the gym before a game, probably 1½ to 2 hours hours before a game, going through her routine.

"I think our players have seen that, and you are seeing more and more of our younger players now coming in the gym -- doing the same thing, working on their game."

Norton said Mitchell will have an opportunity to play professionally.

"She will definitely get an opportunity to play overseas," he said. "We will get her in some combines, tryouts in April. She has already graduated, she has got her degree, which is most important. But she will have a chance to play somewhere professionally if she has a desire to do that.

"I think she is (good enough to play in WNBA). At 5-9 and the athleticism she has, left-handed.

"She has improved her shooting. She can step out and shoot the 3 now. I think she will have an opportunity, if we can just her the tryout, then it becomes about a need and a fit. About what they are looking for. She certainly has the ability to do it."

Kevin Price, 706-320-4493, Follow Kevin on Twitter @lesports

Career Totals

1st in field goals made - 477

2nd in field goals attempted - 1007

5th in field goal percentage - .4736

4th in total points - 1158

1st in points per game - 19.97

4th in free throw percentage - .798

7th in rebounds per game - 7.93

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 4:18 PM with the headline "After almost quitting basketball, Michelle Mitchell re-writing Columbus State record book ."