Frank Mitchell, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound transfer from Minnesota, is the latest addition to St. Bonaventure’s roster.
Last season with the Gophers, Mitchell averaged 4.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 66.4% from the field. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they came in limited minutes at a Power Four program. The year prior, Mitchell was a force at Canisius, averaging a double-double with 12.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.
Built like a linebacker, Mitchell brings a physical presence to the paint that the Bonnies lacked last season. His interior toughness should pair well with fellow newcomer Joe Grahovac, a 6-foot-11 forward who brings more perimeter versatility.
“I think (Mitchell) and I will play off each other pretty well,” said Grahovac. “I can play outside, and he can really help me hold it together down low.”
The duo offers a blend of inside-outside skills that could give opposing frontcourts problems in the Atlantic 10.
“Hard work works. That’s something I live by, and that just screams St. Bonaventure basketball,” said Mitchell.
His size, motor and no-nonsense style fit the mold that head coach Mark Schmidt and his staff have long valued. If Mitchell maintains his intensity and continues to evolve, he could be a major difference-maker in Olean this season.
