Mitchell 'Riding High' After Commitment To Big South School

WARREN - A commitment to Charleston Southern brought an incredible feeling to Aamir Mitchell.

“It’s amazing, I was riding high and I’m still riding high,” pointed out Mitchell, who made the decision to go to the Big South Conference university the day before Thanksgiving. “I never thought I’d be in the position I’m in and I thank God. I also thank my parents. Now I want to help other kids reach their goals of playing college baseball.”

That kind of character helped attract Charleston Southern to the DeLaSalle Collegiate junior.

“The first things they told me they liked about me were my manners and my respectfulness,” Mitchell explained. “That stood out to them. As far as baseball, they said my bat was phenomenal and they can only see it getting better from here. They also liked my arm.”

The top-rated 2023 third baseman in Michigan, who will also be looked at in the outfield and at shortstop at the next level, was first seen by Charleston Southern at the Future Games in the beginning of August.

“I didn’t talk to them after that, not until one-and-a-half months ago,” Mitchell reflected. “My coach with USA Prime helped me get in contact with them and I sent video. The coach loved me and wanted me to come down for a camp. I performed really well and I talked with coach Mac (Marc MacMillan, the head coach). He said he saw me at the Future Games.

“After a hit on the field, he brought me in and gave me an offer,” Mitchell continued. “I was with my mom but I wanted to talk to my dad about it so we flew back home to talk to him. After talking with him he said it sounds like a great place to play. Charleston Southern is a private school and I go to a private school now, so I don’t think it will be a big difference.”

Bowling Green, Mississippi State, Michigan, Ball State, Central Michigan and Middle Tennessee were others that the 41st-ranked junior in the state had been talking with in addition to receiving an offer from North Alabama.

“I just loved the coaching staff at Charleston Southern,” Mitchell said of what all played a role in the decision. “They’re really down to earth. I love how they push their players and I’m excited about what the staff is going to do for my future.

“I just fell in love with where the program is going,” Mitchell added. “I also like how Charleston is diverse, plus I have family down there two hours away.”

That is also the time it takes to fly from his residence in Michigan to the school in South Carolina, where Mitchell anticipates a gratifying college experience.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, being in another state and expanding my friends,” the recently-turned 16-year-old said. “I’m also looking forward to being in warm weather. I’m excited to know I’ll be playing there within two years.”

The idea of playing baseball after high school is only a recent development for Mitchell.

“One-and-a-half years ago after 14U is when I started to take the initiative into college baseball,” Mitchell related. “I realized I was good enough and I reached out, not heavily or anything then, but a fire ignited in me and I began to push to be the best I can be.

“BG was the first I ever talked to, that was after Christmas last year,” Mitchell continued. “After the Future Games is when schools really started reaching out to me, Ball State, North Alabama and Michigan State. A lot of them I’ve talked to I’ve been to their camps. I performed just okay at the Future Games but I guess I showed enough of what I can do.”

The premier PBR event of the year was a first-class experience according to the 25th-rated 2023 in Michigan to make a college commitment.

“Going to the Future Games and performing in front of all those coaches was amazing,” Mitchell noted. “Aaron Wilson (PBR Michigan Director of Scouting) did a great job helping me talk to my first Power 5 school. PBR played a tremendous role in going to showcases and the Future Games with getting me in front of a lot of eyes.”

Improvement in the weight room also proved beneficial for the 6-3 180-pounder.

“Going in and actually having a plan to improve on something was big,” Mitchell pointed out. “Working every day on something baseball related really helped me out a lot, as did reaching out to coaches to find out how to improve.”

Griff Green (recruiting coordinator for USA Prime in Michigan) and Nick Swanson (USA Prime 16 coach), along with infield coach Ryan McClelland and former travel coach Edward Gregory are also credited with aiding the process according to Mitchell, a 3.48 student planning on a major in mechanical engineering or computer science at Charleston Southern.

“I feel I can bring a tremendous bat, a middle-of-the-lineup bat to the program,” Mitchell said in looking ahead to college baseball. “I can play anywhere they need me, wherever they need an arm or just a guy to help out somewhere.”