The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
NBA star Mitchell returns to Greenwich, inspires youth
GREENWICH — Donovan Mitchell stood alone among the crowd that night of July 8, 2010. His mom, Nicole, had dropped him off outside the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club, and along with the rest of the sports world, he anxiously awaited the man inside to make The Decision.
LeBron James was 25. Donovan Mitchell was 13.
“I was right over there,” Mitchell said Wednesday night, pointing to a spot in front of the large brick building. “I wanted him to go to the Heat. I was probably the only one in the crowd who did, to go play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
“It was one of those kid moments you never forget.
So this is special to be able to talk to the kids here. It’s one of those full circle moments for me. I’m humbled and honored to be able to do it. I was once that kid. It gives me chills to think I’ve come this far.”
LeBron famously announced he was taking his talents to South Beach that night in 2010.
A decade later, Donovan Mitchell, now 24, brought his talents back to Greenwich under the lights outside the Boys & Girls Club.
Selected recently in a poll by NBA executives as one of the top five players under 25 they’d want to build their franchise around, the Utah Jazz guard’s basketball talents are considerable.
Mitchell and Portland’s Jamal Murray had an epic seven-game duel that saw both exceed 50 points twice in one series. Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson are the only others in NBA history to do it.
According to McMahon athletic director John Cross, the teams hope to return on Nov. 2 and get in a few practices before the start of the FCIAC regional postseason.
The CIAC postseason, which will take place within the regions, is scheduled to take place Nov. 7-20.
Brookfield is in the same boat with no athletic contests until Nov. 2 as the school has gone to full remote learning after an outbreak, according to athletic director Stephen Baldwin.
Notre Dame-Fairfield has postponed boys soccer games on Oct. 22, 27 and 29, and did not play girls soccer Oct. 22 against Kolbe Cathedral or girls volleyball Oct. 21 against Kolbe Cathedral.
In the eastern part of the state, the ECC has seen widespread cancellations and postponements with outbreaks at different schools.
The Day of New London reported that the towns of East Lyme, Montville, Norwich and New London are under “red alert.”
New London closed this week with all athletic contests through the beginning of next week postponed.
Norwich Free Academy has canceled all sporting events through Oct. 31 and Norwich Tech has not played anything since Oct. 5 with everything through the end of the month canceled.
East Lyme is scheduled to return to play Friday bringing an end to its postponements, which began Oct. 5. The school was scheduled to return students to inperson classes Thursday.
Montville went to full remote learning Oct. 19 and has canceled athletic contests up to Oct. 31.