UNT's Tony Mitchell: Humble superstar

Harry · November 9, 2012

Tony Mitchell had escaped the prying eyes of NBA scouts that often peer down at him from the green seats at the Super Pit and was walking across the North Texas campus earlier this year when a group of students and the contraption they had built caught his attention.

Sitting there on the sidewalk was a teeter-totter a fraternity had set up to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Mitchell was on his way to class with friend and teammate Roger Franklin, who knew what was coming next.

“Tony was the first one on,” Franklin said. “We were late to class, but he said he was going to ride it. He jumped on for 10, 20 seconds, got off and donated 20 cents. That is the type of guy he is. He is playful. He’s something else — something special.”

Few would argue that point.

The 6-8 power forward with the inside-outside game has talent that makes him a likely NBA lottery pick and unquestionably the most high-profile player to ever pull on a UNT basketball jersey.

Those closest to Mitchell say the attention he has garnered hasn’t changed him. Mitchell still chats up students, poses for pictures with strangers and knows more than a few people he runs into at UNT by their first name.

They say the ride he took on that teeter-totter is just one sign that Mitchell is the same humble, goofy, caring person he always has been — and takes pride in being — as he prepares for what likely will be a whirlwind final few weeks at UNT.

That journey will begin tonight when the Mean Green opens its season at Creighton.

“I told the team today that Tony is one of the most humble superstars I have ever been around,” first-year UNT head coach Tony Benford said. “He just wants to be a regular guy and is the best teammate you could have. He would give the shirt off his back to a teammate.”

Or the last dollar out of his pocket.

read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20121109-mens-basketball-humble-superstar.ece