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Q&A With Martice Mitchell
2/25/2021 7:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Freshman talks about his favorite memories, love of the game, mom's cooking and scoring in the wrong basket
Martice Mitchell talks about his love for the game, mom's cooking, favorite memories, Chicago basketball, where he's looking to improve and scoring a basket for the other team. This feature was produced for the Minnesota vs. Northwestern game program on Feb. 25, 2021.
GopherSports: What was the recruiting process like and how did you decide on the University of Minnesota?
Martice Mitchell: I really enjoyed coming here on my visits and the family vibe the team has. I also like the freedom I have here to develop my game and work on different skills on the wing.
GS: Who do you style your game after and how do you envision yourself as a player?
MM: I envision myself as a Kevin Durant type of guy who can handle the basketball and also shoot. I actually have a great shot and I like to model my game after him because he is one of my favorite players.
GS: When you get into a game, how do you try to show your skills?
MM: I don't only think about performing at a high level, I just try to do what I can in order to help the team win. If that is on the offensive or defensive side, if we need a bucket or a stop, I try to do the best that I can.
GS: Were you always tall? How you become a wing player with your height?
MM: I was actually an average height as everyone else throughout middle school and it was pretty easy for me to play the wing. By eighth grade year I started to get taller than everybody and that is when coach started to play me at four and five. I actually went to middle school with Ahorn Ulis, a guard now at Iowa. After that summer I hit a growth spirt and went from 5'9 to 6'4 or 6'5.
GS: What are some things you are now currently working on to better your game?
MM: I am working on my strength and my handle. My handle is improving every day. I am the type of player that gets better every time I am on the court. I like to soak up any information that the coaches share and get the best that I can in practice or in a game situation.
GS: You are always cheering on your teammates and waving towels on the bench. How important is that to the team right now?
MM: It is really hard not having fans in the stadium. I have been in this position on the bench before, so I am not really hurt about it. But, when I am on the bench I make sure to supply that energy to the team because there are no fans. I want to make sure that I bring the energy that we once had at The Barn.
GS: When did you start playing basketball?
MM: I picked up a ball when I was around the age of four. My mom has pictures of me from that age when she bought me a mini hoop. I played my first regulation game in fourth grade and my first bucket was actually in the other team's basket. That was pretty funny and something I always remember. I began to play for fun and ended up finding an AAU team that I loved playing for. It really took off after that.
GS: Can you tell us more about that first basket you scored? Did you get a defensive rebound and put it back up?
MM: It was actually right from the tip. They tipped the ball, our team got it and passed it to me. I immediately went to the wrong basket and took the shot.
GS: What have you grown to love most about the sport?
MM: The thing that I love the most is the grind. I love the grind. When I am in the position where I think I can't show everyone what I have to bring, grinding is the best option. I keep going and keep working.
GS: As a freshman, how hard has the adjustment been for you?
MM: It is coming along. I had some struggles in the beginning of the year trying to build my schedule out and make sure I had enough time for everything. Now I have a journal that I use to write down different times of things I need to be at.
GS: You are from Chicago, which is known to be a legendary basketball city. What is the sport like down in the Windy City?
MM: Basketball in Chicago is great and that is part of the reason I fell in love with the sport. It is so competitive and the skill cannot be compared to any other place I have played at. From California to Florida and even Atlanta, there is no match for the skill in Chicago. The culture stresses that failure is not an option and everyone is so competitive.
GS: Did you grow up as a Bulls fan?
MM: Yes. I loved watching Derrick Rose play. I haven't been watching the Bulls much now, but I do watch Zach LaVine's highlights after their games. He is another person that I look up to.
GS: Having grown up in a big city like Chicago, did that make you want to go to a school that was in a metropolitan area?
MM: That was something I was thinking about during the process. I did not want to go to a rural area where there was almost nothing around.
GS: What is your favorite food? Does it change when you are in Minneapolis compared to when you are in Chicago?
MM: I don't really have a favorite food in Minnesota, but when I am in Chicago it is definitely chicken or my mom's cooking.
GS: What type of music do you listen to? Does it differ from pregame to when you are in your dorm doing homework?
MM: I have a playlist for when I am at home listening to music. There we listen to the old school music like Marvin Gaye or the Isley Brothers. I am most likely listening to new rap to get me hyped up pregame.
GS: Do you have a favorite TV show?
MM: I would have to say my favorite tv show is Rick and Morty, but I don't really watch TV.
GS: What is your favorite memory of your basketball career so far?
MM: I have a lot of good memories from basketball, most relate to traveling around the country during AAU. I would say my favorite would be when I played against Jaylen Johnson at a basketball camp.
GS: Did you play other sports other than basketball growing up?
MM: I played a little bit of football, but I didn't get as serious for football as I did for basketball.
GopherSports: What was the recruiting process like and how did you decide on the University of Minnesota?
Martice Mitchell: I really enjoyed coming here on my visits and the family vibe the team has. I also like the freedom I have here to develop my game and work on different skills on the wing.
GS: Who do you style your game after and how do you envision yourself as a player?
MM: I envision myself as a Kevin Durant type of guy who can handle the basketball and also shoot. I actually have a great shot and I like to model my game after him because he is one of my favorite players.
GS: When you get into a game, how do you try to show your skills?
MM: I don't only think about performing at a high level, I just try to do what I can in order to help the team win. If that is on the offensive or defensive side, if we need a bucket or a stop, I try to do the best that I can.
GS: Were you always tall? How you become a wing player with your height?
MM: I was actually an average height as everyone else throughout middle school and it was pretty easy for me to play the wing. By eighth grade year I started to get taller than everybody and that is when coach started to play me at four and five. I actually went to middle school with Ahorn Ulis, a guard now at Iowa. After that summer I hit a growth spirt and went from 5'9 to 6'4 or 6'5.
GS: What are some things you are now currently working on to better your game?
MM: I am working on my strength and my handle. My handle is improving every day. I am the type of player that gets better every time I am on the court. I like to soak up any information that the coaches share and get the best that I can in practice or in a game situation.
GS: You are always cheering on your teammates and waving towels on the bench. How important is that to the team right now?
MM: It is really hard not having fans in the stadium. I have been in this position on the bench before, so I am not really hurt about it. But, when I am on the bench I make sure to supply that energy to the team because there are no fans. I want to make sure that I bring the energy that we once had at The Barn.
GS: When did you start playing basketball?
MM: I picked up a ball when I was around the age of four. My mom has pictures of me from that age when she bought me a mini hoop. I played my first regulation game in fourth grade and my first bucket was actually in the other team's basket. That was pretty funny and something I always remember. I began to play for fun and ended up finding an AAU team that I loved playing for. It really took off after that.
GS: Can you tell us more about that first basket you scored? Did you get a defensive rebound and put it back up?
MM: It was actually right from the tip. They tipped the ball, our team got it and passed it to me. I immediately went to the wrong basket and took the shot.
GS: What have you grown to love most about the sport?
MM: The thing that I love the most is the grind. I love the grind. When I am in the position where I think I can't show everyone what I have to bring, grinding is the best option. I keep going and keep working.
GS: As a freshman, how hard has the adjustment been for you?
MM: It is coming along. I had some struggles in the beginning of the year trying to build my schedule out and make sure I had enough time for everything. Now I have a journal that I use to write down different times of things I need to be at.
GS: You are from Chicago, which is known to be a legendary basketball city. What is the sport like down in the Windy City?
MM: Basketball in Chicago is great and that is part of the reason I fell in love with the sport. It is so competitive and the skill cannot be compared to any other place I have played at. From California to Florida and even Atlanta, there is no match for the skill in Chicago. The culture stresses that failure is not an option and everyone is so competitive.
GS: Did you grow up as a Bulls fan?
MM: Yes. I loved watching Derrick Rose play. I haven't been watching the Bulls much now, but I do watch Zach LaVine's highlights after their games. He is another person that I look up to.
GS: Having grown up in a big city like Chicago, did that make you want to go to a school that was in a metropolitan area?
MM: That was something I was thinking about during the process. I did not want to go to a rural area where there was almost nothing around.
GS: What is your favorite food? Does it change when you are in Minneapolis compared to when you are in Chicago?
MM: I don't really have a favorite food in Minnesota, but when I am in Chicago it is definitely chicken or my mom's cooking.
GS: What type of music do you listen to? Does it differ from pregame to when you are in your dorm doing homework?
MM: I have a playlist for when I am at home listening to music. There we listen to the old school music like Marvin Gaye or the Isley Brothers. I am most likely listening to new rap to get me hyped up pregame.
GS: Do you have a favorite TV show?
MM: I would have to say my favorite tv show is Rick and Morty, but I don't really watch TV.
GS: What is your favorite memory of your basketball career so far?
MM: I have a lot of good memories from basketball, most relate to traveling around the country during AAU. I would say my favorite would be when I played against Jaylen Johnson at a basketball camp.
GS: Did you play other sports other than basketball growing up?
MM: I played a little bit of football, but I didn't get as serious for football as I did for basketball.
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