Highlights: Reitz vs Castle boys basketball
Reitz defeated Castle 66-56 in the Class 4A sectional
EVANSVILLE — One of the top players in the Class of 2027 is leaving Indiana.
Jaylan Mitchell, a 5-star recruit, announced he is enrolling next year at SPIRE Academy, an international college preparatory school in Geneva, Ohio. The 6-8 sophomore spent the past two seasons at Evansville Reitz High School.
Mitchell averaged 16.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals last winter for the Panthers.
The sophomore is a consensus top 10 prospect per multiple national recruiting services: fourth on Rivals and 247Sports and eighth on ESPN. He continues a trend of high-level players to opt for prep academies to further their basketball careers. Among those from Indiana in recent years: Jalen Haralson (Fishers), Kanon Catchings (Brownsburg) and Trent Sisley (Heritage Hills).
Mitchell arrived on the West Side from Olney, Ill. following seventh grade. The basketball attention immediately commenced with multiple offers before ever stepping foot in high school. Among them include Illinois, Arizona State, Missouri, TCU, Maryland, Notre Dame and Indiana. The latter though was an offer by the previous staff under coach Mike Woodson.
Mitchell was a two-time All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference selection and chosen All-State Underclass Supreme 15 as a sophomore. He totaled 637 points, 425 rebounds and 201 assists across two seasons at Reitz, who went 16-6 and won the outright SIAC title this past year. The Panthers lost to Harrison in the Class 4A sectional championship.
Among the SPIRE alumni listed on their webiste include NBA players LaMelo Ball, Jalen Pickett and Isaiah Jackson.
This story will be updated.