Xzavion Mitchell is officially returning

[SolterraCyclone]

Honestly very surprised by this. TJ must still see some potential. Thought for sure he’d go Missouri Valley or MAC.

I think it’s great we were able to retain him. I’ve been banging the drum that we need to try and retain at least some of these underclassmen projects because they can develop into contributors by the time they’re juniors or seniors.

I’d much rather have had Jelani Hamilton or JT Rock or even Eli King than Mason Williams or Eric Mulder last year.

 

[Grayernotmayor]

I want Mitchell to get enough playing time to hear how consistently announcers pronounce his first name correctly.

I can help here. Mitchell’s first name is pronounced: X-zuh-VIGH-e-uhn.

 

[BryceC]

I think it’s great we were able to retain him. I’ve been banging the drum that we need to try and retain at least some of these underclassmen projects because they can develop into contributors by the time they’re juniors or seniors.

I’d much rather have had Jelani Hamilton or JT Rock or even Eli King than Mason Williams or Eric Mulder last year.

Agreed. Most of the time those guys don’t want to wait though.

 

[CYdTracked]

I think it’s great we were able to retain him. I’ve been banging the drum that we need to try and retain at least some of these underclassmen projects because they can develop into contributors by the time they’re juniors or seniors.

I’d much rather have had Jelani Hamilton or JT Rock or even Eli King than Mason Williams or Eric Mulder last year.

I never saw anything out of Rock or King to make me think they would be successful in the Big 12. I guess we will find out next season with Rock going to KSU but he didn't exactly tear it up at New Mexico last year in a limited role. King has some success at North Dakota but just like some of the other guys we've had transfer down to smaller conference competition that is not an indication they would have been able to come close to that had they stayed at ISU. Hamilton is the 1 out of that group that you wonder if could have at least carved out a bench role. But even he just transferred to Florida Atlantic so didn't exactly take big step up in competition at his next stop.

I hate to say it but the portal is making it tougher for those developmental type freshmen to get playing time at P4 schools now. You gotta be ready to play at that level from day 1 else it's an upwards battle to get playing time when teams are able to go out and get proven and developed talent from the portal that can contribute immediately. It's almost better for kids like Rock and King to start at a smaller school and get your playing time there then hopefully develop to where you can enter the portal after a year or 2 and make a move up in competition.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Nice minute of comments from TJ on Xzavion

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/videos/sports/college/iowa-state/basketball-mens/2026/05/26/iowa-state-basketball-coach-tj-otzelberger-on-xzavion-mitchell/90266667007/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a1609dce810bd0001363b2c

 

[Ankency]

Nice minute of comments from TJ on Xzavion

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/videos/sports/college/iowa-state/basketball-mens/2026/05/26/iowa-state-basketball-coach-tj-otzelberger-on-xzavion-mitchell/90266667007/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a1609dce810bd0001363b2c

That’s encouraging!!

 

[demoncore1031]

I'm having a hard time picturing Mitchell getting significant minutes with all the depth we have. If he gets 10+ minutes per game then either one of the transfers isn't as good as we hoped, or Mitchell worked really hard and made big improvements in his game. Either way we are gonna have a damn good team.

 

[GoSTATE71]

Mitchell was pretty highly touted if I remember and he spent most of this season injured as well right? A full offseason could do wonders and it’d be nice seeing him get 5-10mpg but idk where he will take minutes from

 

[FerShizzle]

He has size and skill. And from all accounts is a hard worker and great teammate. Need as many guys like him on the roster as you can get.

Maybe he makes a year 2 jump like Naz did.

 

[t-noah]

It's pronounced, "HI-zee"

That was so weird and out of the blue.

Not weird at all. Right on cue.

Any time there is talk of proper name pronunciation, Heise will be at the top of the list, for a while anyway. The CBS crew of Spero Dedes, pxp Jim Spanarkel, color, both got Hi-Zee's name wrong all year.

 

[t-noah]

I guess maybe I should have said more highly regarded.. ? I thought he was the higher rated one of the 4 . Whatever, it only matters he’s been here a year with no playing time, but just to learn …. And he wants to stay and contribute… even with the injury he should have a great start

What was Mitchell's injury? Did they ever say?

 

[Drew0311]

He has size and skill. And from all accounts is a hard worker and great teammate. Need as many guys like him on the roster as you can get.

Maybe he makes a year 2 jump like Naz did.

I remember when Naz broke out we were all like "What is going on with this guy". I mean he pretty much sucked his first season, then was crazy good his sophmore year.

 

[Cytasticlone]

I remember when Naz broke out we were all like "What is going on with this guy". I mean he pretty much sucked his first season, then was crazy good his sophmore year.

Looking back, part of the shock being so big was that Naz wen't off for like 7 or 8 3's in an exhibition or the first game of the season. It was really a "Where did this come from?!" situation like you said. He pretty much ended up being a really good shooter from then on. Another similarity is there was talk of Mitchell leaving and it was the same for Naz. After the fact, Naz and Niang told the story like Naz was ready to leave and Niang helped talk him into staying. Naz then went to work and the rest is history. Here's to Mitchell having a similar story!

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Is there a comp for Mitchell? At 6'6", is he a smaller power forward, or a traditional wing?

 

[FerShizzle]

Is there a comp for Mitchell? At 6'6", is he a smaller power forward, or a traditional wing?

ejim

 

[cyclonespiker33]

ejim

Freshman/sophomore Ejim play style or junior/senior Ejim play style?

 

[AuH2O]

Looking back, part of the shock being so big was that Naz wen't off for like 7 or 8 3's in an exhibition or the first game of the season. It was really a "Where did this come from?!" situation like you said. He pretty much ended up being a really good shooter from then on. Another similarity is there was talk of Mitchell leaving and it was the same for Naz. After the fact, Naz and Niang told the story like Naz was ready to leave and Niang helped talk him into staying. Naz then went to work and the rest is history. Here's to Mitchell having a similar story!

Naz is a crazy transformation not only in how much he improved, but his style. He went from essentially a combo, supposed PG that couldn't shoot, to a pure SG.

But I don't like to try to use Naz as a comp. I have heard that his time dedicated on his own putting up shots blows everyone else away.

 

[isufbcurt]

ejim

Not even remotely as athletic as Ejim was

 

[Cyballz]

It's hard to expect a player to make a big jump from nothing to rotation player in one year. Notice how every time someone on here talks about a player making a big jump from doing nothing their freshman year they mention Naz.....because he was the only player that's ever really done that. I'd rattle off the players who haven't, but I'm pretty sure i'd hit a character limit.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Not even remotely as athletic as Ejim was

Definitely more skilled though.

Guessing Mitchell's reemergence has a lot to do with why Kiss went to UNLV.