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An Ivy League grad’s education continues with GW basketball An Ivy League grad’s education continues with GW basketball
(about 9 hours later)
Alex Mitola arrived at George Washington University last summer with a dead-eye shooting stroke and panoramic court vision. Alex Mitola arrived at George Washington University last summer with a deadeye shooting stroke and panoramic court vision.
He also carried with him an Ivy League diploma.He also carried with him an Ivy League diploma.
Mitola transferred from Dartmouth with one season of eligibility left, but not before earning an economics degree in just three years with a 3.5 grade-point average. Mitola transferred from Dartmouth with one season of eligibility left but not before earning an economics degree in just three years with a 3.5 grade-point average.
On the Foggy Bottom campus, where the Colonials are enjoying a 14-4 campaign heading into Friday’s scheduled home game against Rhode Island, the New Jersey-bred guard is pursuing his master’s in international trade and investment policy. On the Foggy Bottom campus, where the Colonials are enjoying a 14-4 campaign heading into Friday’s home game against Rhode Island — moved up to 5 p.m. with free admission, courtesy of the impending storm — the New Jersey-bred guard is pursuing his master’s in international trade and investment policy.
[Bracketology: GW on the bubble in latest NCAA tournament projections][Bracketology: GW on the bubble in latest NCAA tournament projections]
While his teammates are in class before afternoon practices at Smith Center, Mitola prepares for seminars three nights a week.While his teammates are in class before afternoon practices at Smith Center, Mitola prepares for seminars three nights a week.
“A lot of people in my classes have day jobs,” he said. “My day job is basketball.”“A lot of people in my classes have day jobs,” he said. “My day job is basketball.”
After an inconspicuous beginning with his new team, the 5-foot-11 reserve is making conspicuous contributions. With starting point guard Joe McDonald sidelined with an eye injury for almost three full games, Mitola’s playing time has swelled. And despite not starting, Mitola averaged 10.3 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists while making 8 of 14 three-pointers. After an inconspicuous beginning with his new team, the ­5-foot-11 reserve is making conspicuous contributions. With starting point guard Joe McDonald sidelined with an eye injury for almost three full games, Mitola’s playing time has swelled. And despite not starting, Mitola averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists while making 8 of 14 three-pointers.
In each of the past two games, he recorded seven assists. The previous team high was five. Over three games, he had 18 assists and just four turnovers.In each of the past two games, he recorded seven assists. The previous team high was five. Over three games, he had 18 assists and just four turnovers.
“He is very savvy with the ball,” said Wake Forest transfer Tyler Cavanaugh, GW’s leading scorer. “He has what I like to call a never-ending dribble, where he is just probing, always has his eyes up, and he finds people.”“He is very savvy with the ball,” said Wake Forest transfer Tyler Cavanaugh, GW’s leading scorer. “He has what I like to call a never-ending dribble, where he is just probing, always has his eyes up, and he finds people.”
Mitola’s arrival at GW was perhaps the oddest of Mike Lonergan’s long coaching career. He has taken in transfers before. He has even accepted a graduate student whose career was interrupted by injuries (Maurice Creek in 2013-14).Mitola’s arrival at GW was perhaps the oddest of Mike Lonergan’s long coaching career. He has taken in transfers before. He has even accepted a graduate student whose career was interrupted by injuries (Maurice Creek in 2013-14).
But until Mitola committed to GW last spring, Lonergan had not embraced a player who graduated in three years, not to mention from an elite university. Although most transfers must sit out one season, NCAA rules allow graduates with remaining eligibility to play right away.But until Mitola committed to GW last spring, Lonergan had not embraced a player who graduated in three years, not to mention from an elite university. Although most transfers must sit out one season, NCAA rules allow graduates with remaining eligibility to play right away.
“I’m not really a fan of the rule, in all honesty, because the other coach feels awful: His best player isn’t coming back,” Lonergan said. “But you’re talking about graduating from an Ivy League school in three years, and he had some dreams he wanted to fulfill. He worked very hard academically to put himself in position to basically be an unrestricted free agent.”“I’m not really a fan of the rule, in all honesty, because the other coach feels awful: His best player isn’t coming back,” Lonergan said. “But you’re talking about graduating from an Ivy League school in three years, and he had some dreams he wanted to fulfill. He worked very hard academically to put himself in position to basically be an unrestricted free agent.”
[The Big Shorts: An era in basketball fashion is coming to an end][The Big Shorts: An era in basketball fashion is coming to an end]
At Dartmouth, Mitola started every game over three seasons. He averaged almost 12 points per game, set a program record for three-pointers by a freshman and led the league in free throw percentage as a sophomore and junior. In March 2014, he made eight three-pointers and scored 33 points against Cornell. At Dartmouth, Mitola started every game over three seasons. He averaged almost 12 points per game, set a program record for three-pointers by a freshman and led the league in free throw percentage as a sophomore and junior. In March 2014, he made eight three-pointers and scored 33 points against Cornell.
Yet, he was not satisfied. Yet he was not satisfied.
“I did enjoy the school and loved my teammates and the program,” Mitola said, “but I felt like it wasn’t everything I was looking for in college basketball.”“I did enjoy the school and loved my teammates and the program,” Mitola said, “but I felt like it wasn’t everything I was looking for in college basketball.”
Translation: He was confident he could play at a higher level and wanted to prepare himself for a possible basketball career in Europe.Translation: He was confident he could play at a higher level and wanted to prepare himself for a possible basketball career in Europe.
Academically, Mitola was on the fast track. He had crammed his schedule as a sophomore and junior. With early graduation in sight, he decided he would skip his final year of eligibility at Dartmouth — he could’ve stayed for a minor or graduate degree — and pursue opportunities at schools that offered rigorous programs in both basketball and higher education. Academically, Mitola was on the fast track. He had crammed his schedule as a sophomore and junior. With early graduation in sight, he decided he would skip his final year of eligibility at Dartmouth — he could have stayed for a minor or graduate degree — and pursue opportunities at schools that offered rigorous programs in both basketball and higher education.
Counting on his captain to return, Big Green Coach Paul Cormier did not take it well.Counting on his captain to return, Big Green Coach Paul Cormier did not take it well.
“It floored me,” he told the Valley News of West Lebanon, N.H., in April. “I’m disappointed and think he’s making a terrible mistake. The decision that requires the most substance is staying here and following through with the teammates you came in with.”“It floored me,” he told the Valley News of West Lebanon, N.H., in April. “I’m disappointed and think he’s making a terrible mistake. The decision that requires the most substance is staying here and following through with the teammates you came in with.”
Asked this week about Cormier’s reaction, Mitola said: “That was a very difficult conversation to have because we had a good relationship. I had talked to him about it briefly a year before; just brought up the idea. Asked this week about Cormier’s reaction, Mitola said: “That was a very difficult conversation to have because we had a good relationship. I had talked to him about it briefly a year before, just brought up the idea.
“Since then, he has reached out to me a couple times and we seem to be on good terms. It was difficult for him because it put him in a difficult spot, but ultimately he handled it the right way.” “Since then, he has reached out to me a couple times, and we seem to be on good terms. It was difficult for him because it put him in a difficult spot, but ultimately he handled it the right way.”
Once news of his imminent departure circulated, Mitola said he received about 30 offers from Division I programs. GW, Vanderbilt, Richmond and La Salle were at the top of the list.Once news of his imminent departure circulated, Mitola said he received about 30 offers from Division I programs. GW, Vanderbilt, Richmond and La Salle were at the top of the list.
Aside from the appeal of basketball and academics, GW had an advantage because Mitola and Lonergan had crossed paths years earlier when Lonergan was coaching Vermont.Aside from the appeal of basketball and academics, GW had an advantage because Mitola and Lonergan had crossed paths years earlier when Lonergan was coaching Vermont.
Since then, the coach had not kept track of Mitola. But another potential GW transfer had: Seton Hall’s Jaren Sina and Mitola were best friends and teammates at Gill St. Bernard’s School in Gladstone, N.J.Since then, the coach had not kept track of Mitola. But another potential GW transfer had: Seton Hall’s Jaren Sina and Mitola were best friends and teammates at Gill St. Bernard’s School in Gladstone, N.J.
Lonergan recalls Sina saying, “Remember my buddy Alex? He’s going to graduate and transfer.”Lonergan recalls Sina saying, “Remember my buddy Alex? He’s going to graduate and transfer.”
After checking Mitola’s stats and gaining permission, Lonergan reached out. Mitola addressed two needs: free throw shooting and assist-turnover ratio.After checking Mitola’s stats and gaining permission, Lonergan reached out. Mitola addressed two needs: free throw shooting and assist-turnover ratio.
Lonergan’s pitch: “You know me, I know you, we’re going to be a pretty good team. You’re not going to start, but I value shooters.” Lonergan’s pitch: “You know me. I know you. We’re going to be a pretty good team. You’re not going to start, but I value shooters.”
GW was the only school Mitola ended up visiting. Six weeks before Dartmouth graduation ceremonies, he committed to GW. A few days later, Sina told Mitola he was going to join the Colonials, as well. (As an undergrad, the 6-2 guard is sitting out this season.) GW was the only school Mitola ended up visiting. Six weeks before Dartmouth graduation ceremonies, he committed to GW. A few days later, Sina told Mitola he was going to join the Colonials, as well. (As an undergrad, the 6-2 guard is sitting out this season.)
“It wasn’t a package deal,” Lonergan said. “Jaren just thought we were a good fit for Alex and a good fit for him.”“It wasn’t a package deal,” Lonergan said. “Jaren just thought we were a good fit for Alex and a good fit for him.”
The connection yielded another player: Mitola’s brother, Adam. The high school senior will join the Colonials as a walk-on next season.The connection yielded another player: Mitola’s brother, Adam. The high school senior will join the Colonials as a walk-on next season.
Both siblings will stroll campus next fall, though only Adam will be in uniform. His NCAA career over, Alex will devote all of his time to the second year of the master’s program.Both siblings will stroll campus next fall, though only Adam will be in uniform. His NCAA career over, Alex will devote all of his time to the second year of the master’s program.
“I’m not totally sure where I would like to use it,” he said of career aspirations. “I looked at [transferring] as an opportunity in both aspects of life: I want to continue playing basketball for as long as I can but also continue learning.” “I’m not totally sure where I would like to use it,” he said of his career aspirations. “I looked at [transferring] as an opportunity in both aspects of life: I want to continue playing basketball for as long as I can but also continue learning.”