Dee Mitchell earns scholarship while on shift at Walmart
STILLWATER, Okla. (BVM) — Oklahoma State basketball head coach Mike Boynton probably doesn’t have a lot of time to make trips to Walmart during the college basketball season, but he made a special trip to the store a couple of weeks ago.
One of his current players, walk-on Dee Mitchell, had recently taken a job at Walmart. His mother had recently seen a reduction in her hours due to the pandemic, so he made the decision to get a full-time job and help her out. Michell also took nearly 20 hours of classes while working this job.
“It’s a crazy lifestyle man,” Mitchell said in a zoom press conference. “One day, I’m working at Walmart till 10 at night. Then the next day I’m playing with the best teammates I’ve ever had and [for] the best coaches.
Then on Jan. 17, what seemed to be a typical day at work for Mitchell, his life would change forever as he was no longer a walk-on for the OSU basketball team.
“It’s quite literally one of the five most gratifying moments of my life,” Boynton said in the Zoom press conference. “I’ve not felt good about anything in basketball the way I felt about being [to help him]. I didn’t give him anything. He earned this, and I was thankful to be part of the process in helping him receive that reward.”
Nobody works harder than Dee Mitchell. He joined the Cowboys as a walk-on this day in 2019, and is paying his way through school thanks to his job at @Walmart.
But @thacoachmike has a surprise for Dee …#NewEra I #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/4iyDKM6Sap
— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) January 18, 2021
A scholarship spot opened up due to freshman Montreal Pena departing the team for personal reasons. He had not suited up for the Cowboys yet this season.
Mitchell did not play much his freshman year. But last season, Mitchell made the most of his time on the court. He played in 19 total games, 11 of those being Big 12 regular-season games. He also played in the Cowboys’ only conference tournament game against Iowa State. Mitchell also earned his first start against Houston, where he had two points, one rebound, and one assist. For the year, Mitchell shot 43% from the field and scored in four games, dished out eight assists, had three steals, and blocked one shot.
Mitchell has seen the court just once this year and has suited up only twice. And because of the ongoing pandemic, OSU is not suiting up walk-on players unless a spot opens up on the bench. But Mitchell is no longer a walk-on. He now is a full scholarship player, and he will be looking to make an impact on Eddie Sutton Court every night.
“I was high on emotion,” Mitchell said. “I was very excited [and] overwhelmed with the situation. “[But this] means the world. Taking that burden off of them with the tuition. I appreciate it, and it means the world [to me].”
