Deerfield, Ill. -- TIU Basketball and head coach Boomer Roberts have added another talented student-athlete to the fold in the 2016 class, as they announced the addition of Sam Mitchell as the newest member of the Trojans. Mitchell, who will be a junior for the TIU program next season, is a 6-6 wing/forward who last played at Oakton Community College.

"We are pumped to add Sam Mitchell to our Trinity Basketball family," Roberts said. "Sam is a talented individual who will fit very well in the locker room and on the floor alongside all of our returners next season. He is a gifted player who will be an immediate difference-maker, and we believe he will have a tremendous career on and off the court at TIU."

Mitchell played two seasons at Oakton CC under head coach Mick Reuter, where he was a standout on the court for the Owls. Mitchell was named All-Skyway Conference Second Team as a freshman in 2012-2013, averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds, and two assists per game, while shooting 47% from the field. The versatile forward followed his first season up by earning All-Skyway First Team as a sophomore in 2013-2014. That season, Mitchell helped the Owls to an improvement of five wins from the previous year, posting averages of 13 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, and one steal per game, shooting 85% from the free throw line.  For his effort, Mitchell was also named to the NJCAA Region VI First Team. 

"Sam will be a wonderful asset to the TIU Basketball program," Reuter stated. "He is a very talented player who plays with high intensity and toughness. It was my pleasure watching him develop athletically and as a student-athlete at Oakton, and I look forward to seeing his continued growth under Coach Roberts."

Prior to Oakton, Mitchell prepped at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The newest addition to the Trojans is excited about his future at TIU.

"When I visited the campus, it felt like home," Mitchell said. "I knew it was the right place for me."

Mitchell joins Mark Smith, an incoming freshman post from Riverside Brookfield High School, in the Trojans' 2016 recruiting class. The duo, along with any other future signees, will join the ten returning players from this season as the Trojans look to build off the most successful season in the past 18 years of Trinity Basketball. 

"Sam can do multiple things well on the court," Roberts added. "His passing ability makes everyone around him better, and he does it equally well off the dribble or in the post. He is big, strong, and physical, and shoots the 3 as well as he finishes at the rim, which makes him a very difficult matchup for opposing teams. We have a tremendous group of young men in our locker room already, and Sam adds to that. Watching our family atmosphere grow while we add more talent is exciting, and we'll continue to recruit to find guys who are great fits at Trinity International." 

The current Trojan squad has posted 19 wins, the program's most since 1999, and is gearing up for the NCCAA Tournament, which tips off Wednesday, March 16 at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind.