By SPENCER BATES
ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure center Frank Mitchell has played in the Reilly Center before.
Granted, he was in the away locker room then.
Now, he’s starting to understand what comes with having a spot with the home team.
“I got to commend the community, this school bleeds and breathes basketball,” Mitchell said. “They made the adjustment very easy. It’s different being able to represent St. Bonaventure and have the wolf on your chest instead of playing against it. The adjustment has been great, Schmidt is great, Woj is great, everyone around us, the team is great, and we’re just clicking.”
St. Bonaventure men’s basketball General Manager Adrian Wojnarowski’s first-ever signing, Mitchell is set to be a key player for the Bonnies. It is no secret that head coach Mark Schmidt likes to build his teams from the inside out. Two years ago, he had Chad Venning stick with the team through the portal season, last season he had Noel Brown. So, it is no surprise that the first piece of the puzzle out of the portal was a big, no-nonsense, physically dominant paint presence.
Last season, Mitchell suited up for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, but prior to that he was an anchor to a Canisius team that handed the Bonnies their first loss in the 2023-24 season. So, while he is not unfamiliar with the area, he noted that the Bona faithful have still done everything in their power to make him feel at home in his new surroundings.
“Anybody out here, they understand how important Bonaventure basketball is to the community,” Mitchell said. “I go to the gas station, I go to Walmart, and (everyone knows I go to Bonnies), it’s something that comes with the community. So to see the community all behind us, is a blessing. These guys really love the game and love the sports and love the team. I don’t think any power-five, power-four school can compete with this. I think we’re right up there.”
It is near impossible not to notice Mitchell. Officially 6-8, 270 lbs., his presence commands attention — and so help defenders if they don’t pay him any. But it’s not just the physical nature of him that makes him such a factor, his personality is unequivocally unique. And according to him, staying true to himself has translated to results on the court.
“Coach says a lot, ‘don’t change yourself for who’s in the crowd,’ and that applies on the court as well,” Mitchell said. “You don’t come out here and start shooting 3s when your job is rebounding, or whatever. … I never changed myself. I never change who I am, who I am is great. People love you for your personality and who you are, … I just stay true to myself and believe in myself and it translates on the court. … It allows me to have my motor because it’s just me.”
Frank Mitchell steps off the plane on the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team’s trip to New York City for its Pro Day at the NBPA. (St. Bonaventure Athletics via IG)
A Toronto native, Mitchell is tapped into the hotbed of basketball talent coming out of Canada. In fact, he has plenty of friends in some high places, including Phoenix Suns small forward Dillon Brooks, and brothers Andrew and Ryan Nembhard, who play for the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
Of course, the influence of that trio of NBA stars has only spurred on Mitchell’s desire to work and put out the best product he can on any given night.
“Dillon Brooks, Andrew Nembhard and Ryan Nembhard, those are my brothers,” Mitchell said. “We’ve been through a lot. Every summer we were in the gym three times a day. I talk to Dillon, I talk to Andrew and Ryan every day, and being around pros and seeing what it takes to get there, it changes your work ethic, it changes your mindset. It changes your obsession over the game. … You realize these guys are in the league and are doing three-a-days, so I have to ramp up my game because I’m not in the league. I have to do what I have to do to separate myself from my opponents.”
But the encouragement is not solely external for Mitchell. He admitted that everywhere he has gone throughout his collegiate journey, he has had the benefit of teammates and coaches that have kept him on the path to success. That includes this Bonnies team.
It is that support that makes going to war in the paint for his teammates something he truly enjoys.
“I’ve been on teams, thanks to God, that drive me and have motivated me through all the trials and tribulations,” Mitchell said. “My teammates allow me to come in here and keep being dominant. They tell me to keep going, even though stuff is not going right. It comes down to people around me, my teammates, and also just me. I enjoy the physicality of the game. I enjoy giving my team second opportunities, rebounds, and being physical. And one thing I live by is I’ll never allow myself to get punked. It’s a man’s sport, it’s dog-eat-dog, whoever bows down first is a loser.”
Frank Mitchell sits down to talk about his basketball career with The Canadian Basketball Show. (St. Bonaventure Athletics/The Canadian Basketball Show via IG)
Speaking of his teammates, Mitchell had nothing but positive things to say about those around him. He, along with team captain Dasonte Bowen and the rest of the roster have all come to an understanding to leave personal goals out of the picture. Instead, opting for a team-centric focus when it comes to what they want to achieve.
That, of course, is a ticket to the big dance.
“Nothing’s personal in this game, no one has agendas in this locker room,” Mitchell said. “For the team, I want to be able to have one of the winningest seasons in a long time. I have to follow behind Andrew Nicholson, that’s a fellow Canadian. So, I’m trying to bring an A10 Championship home and get this Reilly Center packed, that’s the goal this year.”
Mitchell will have the chance to showcase his dominance for the first time in front of a packed RC on Oct. 29 when the Bonnies will face Alfred University in an exhibition game.
