Florida 2007 prospect is one to watch

At the Big Bend Shootout in Tallahassee, Fla., last weekend, there were a few players that played their way into national attention including Alvin Mitchell. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound small forward from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has emerged as one of the top players in the Sunshine State from the class of 2007.

Playing with the Tallahassee Wildcats, Mitchell showed off a game similar to former Wildcat Alonzo Gee, who is an incoming freshman at Alabama. Mitchell said he's heard the comparison before back home in Florida. In fact, the rising junior has talked to Gee about improving his own game.

"He's a good player. I try to pick up things from watching him and talking about the game. I guess you could say I play like him," Mitchell said.

Mitchell isn't quite the perimeter scorer Gee is but Mitchell can certainly fly up and down the floor. Already possessing a nice college body, the class of 2007 prospect powers his way to the bucket and gets a lot of his points in traffic. He's also shown an attention to detail on the defensive end.

"I try to be an aggressive player that leaves it all out on the floor. When it's time to play, it's just me versus the man covering me. I feel like nobody can get past me," Mitchell said. "I know this is a man's game so it has to be played like that."

On the recruiting front, Mitchell is still under the radar but he'll likely change that in July.

When Tubby Smith was recruiting Mitchell's high school teammate Hyman Taylor, the Kentucky head coach also inquired about Mitchell. He said Virginia Tech, where Taylor is headed this fall, Stanford, Miami and Appalachian State also have Mitchell on their mailing lists.

Coaches can see Mitchell in action at the adidas Superstar camp at the start of July in Suwannee, Ga., and then at the Showtime Nationals at the same venue. Then it's a trip to Vegas for the whirlwind week in Sin City.