Hall of Fame
Jim Mitchell was a dominant post player for some of Macalester’s best men’s basketball teams in the early 1970s. A two-time All-MIAC center, he led the Scots in rebounding in each of his four years on the team, most notably as a sophomore when he grabbed 12.0 boards per game en route to his first All-MIAC award. That year Jim helped Macalester finish 17-9 and advance to the semifinals of the NAIA District 13 Tournament. Although he ended his career as the Scots’ fifth-leading scorer all-time with 1,019 points, his strength was rebounding, registering 965 rebounds in 103 games, an average of 9.4 per contest. Jim also was an intimidating rim protector during a time when blocked shots were not recorded as a stat, using his long arms to block or alter opponents’ shots in the paint. After Macalester, Jim turned his attention to his community, specifically troubled and disadvantaged youths. For 22 years he worked in juvenile corrections and in the public schools, serving as a mentor and father figure to numerous young men. Jim also used basketball as a way to teach life skills to young people, coaching in the St. Paul Public Schools for many years. He also came back to Macalester to coach the junior varsity team.
