Mitchell verbally commits to LSU

Ayanna Mitchell has made her collegiate decision.

The Salem High School basketball standout, who will begin her senior season later this year, has verbally committed to play at LSU.

Mitchell made official visits to LSU, Houston and Miami (Florida) before choosing the Baton Rouge school. Salem coach Rochone Dilligard added Mitchell had interest from Louisville and Florida State, but believes the 6-2 guard/forward combo is best suited to be Tiger.

“She’s been very diligent in that process (and) I think LSU is probably the best overall fit for her academically, athletically, socially, and all those kinds of things,” said Dilligard. “Ayanna has been good at evaluating everything academically and athletically…she wants to go into being a sports trainer. She is a 3.6 GPA kid, so she is obviously well-equipped academically.”

Dilligard is also quite familiar with Mitchell’s future college coach, Nikki Caldwell, whose been at LSU since 2011 and has taken the Tigers to the Sweet 16 the past two seasons. The two played together at the University of Tennessee from 1991-1994.

“I do know the hands that she’s going into, I know coach Caldwell. (LSU is) very family oriented, they take care of their players,” Dilligard said. “Nikki’s a great coach, they’ve got a great coaching staff. (Mitchell is) going to continue to get better.”

After what figures to be another successful season at Salem - the Seminoles are coming off the first state quarterfinal appearance in the program’s history - Mitchell will be making a huge leap into Southeastern Conference play, widely regarded as the finest conference in Division 1 women’s basketball.

“It is a great conference to play in, she’s going to be meeting talented athletes every day,” Dilligard said. “Not only that, it kind of fits her makeup as far as what she’s able to do on the floor. She’s able to play with her back to the basket, and face up and…be able to run that floor. That’s where she’s really going to make her mark.”

Perhaps Mitchell’s greatest strength on the court is her ability to collect offensive rebounds, a style of play Dilligard thinks will translate well to the SEC.

“She’s great on offensive rebounds, a lot of those SEC teams, they pride themselves on that,” Dilligard said. “She wants to be the best and she wants to play against the best. I’m excited for Ayanna.”