Tre Mitchell completes a powerful squad
The fourth American in the Croatian champions' roster arrives from France's Bourg, alongside some familiar domestic internationals who have returned to the Vukovi.
The fourth American in the Croatian champions' roster arrives from France's Bourg, alongside some familiar domestic internationals who have returned to the Vukovi.
Basketball club Cibona has completed its roster for the upcoming season with the signing of Tre Mitchell, a 24-year-old power forward who won the EuroCup with France's Bourg last season. As reported by Sportske novosti, Mitchell is the final piece of the puzzle assembled by coach Ivan Rudež, who will compete in the Croatian Championship, the ABA League, and the FIBA Champions League.
The Pittsburgh native stands 206 centimeters tall and can cover both frontcourt positions, which will add depth to the rotation under the basket. Before arriving in France, Mitchell spent one season with Germany's Löwen Braunschweig, gaining valuable two years of experience playing in Europe.
His statistical output in a Bourg jersey was notable. In the EuroCup, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds, while in the French league he had a slightly larger role with 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Prior to his professional career, Mitchell went through elite American universities, playing for UMass, Texas, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Mitchell is the fourth American on the roster, filling the quota of five foreigners on the team, of which only three can be on the court simultaneously in domestic competitions. Alongside him, the foreign players are guard Ricky McGill, who arrived from Slovakia's Levice, and Khalif Battle, a reinforcement from Italy's Trento. Kamake Hepa, one of the six players retained from the championship-winning generation, has also confirmed his stay.
In the backcourt, a fierce battle for minutes is expected. McGill and Battle will share the court with Lovro Gnjidić, who returned from Dubrava, Croatian international Roko Badžim, returning from Turkey's Merkezefendi, and young Vigo Bart. Once he recovers from the injury sustained in the decisive Game 5 of the playoff finals in Zadar, Jan Palokaj will also join them. On the wings, competition comes from Antonio Sikirić, a signing from Split, and mainstays Renato Serdarušić and Borna Katanović, while in the center rotation alongside Mitchell will be Lovro Mazalin, arriving from Zadar, the aforementioned Hepa, and experienced Marjan Čakarun.
