Leland N. Mitchell (1986) - Hall of Fame

Leland N. Mitchell

Induction:
1986
Class:
1963

Leland Mitchell was a two-time All-SEC First-Team performer during his junior and senior seasons. He also notched All-America status from Converse Yearbook as a senior during the 1962-63 campaign.

Mitchell was State’s leading scorer and rebounder in his junior and senior seasons as the Bulldogs dialed up three SEC regular season crowns en route to a 65-13 record.

State made the program’s first NCAA Tournament trip appearing in the historic ‘Game of Change’ in 1962-63 where Mitchell dialed up NCAA Mideast All-Regional Team. He was the first player in program history to score over 20 points during an NCAA Tournament game.

Mitchell was the fourth player to eclipse 1,000 points and the third player to grab at least 700 rebounds during his State career. He poured in 10-plus points in 64 of 78 games with a career-best of 34 points against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 8, 1962.

After State, Mitchell was chosen by the St. Louis Hawks in the second round of the 1963 NBA Draft. He played professionally with the ABA’s New Orleans Buccaneers in 1967-68.

Mitchell, a native of Kiln, Mississippi, passed away in 2013.