Former Gators hoops star plays rec league while pondering future

By Jared Harmon

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

Mitch Platt has gone from the excitement of competing in the NCAA basketball tournament to the hardwood of the Henderson recreation leagues.

After graduating from Oregon last year, the former Green Valley High basketball standout has returned to Henderson while he ponders the next step in his career.

The former center helped the Gators to four straight Southeast Division titles and is one of only a handful of Henderson basketball players to reach the Division-I level. After a successful college career that included two tournament appearances, the 6-foot, 10-inch Platt has been staying sharp in the recreation league while fielding offers from international teams.

"For the last 22 or 23 years of my life I knew what was coming next," Platt said. "After Greenspun (Middle School) was Green Valley and then Oregon. Now I don't know what's next. It's kind of a weird feeling. I have a couple agents helping me out to get placed overseas and find me a good fit."

Platt has gained interest from teams in Japan, the Middle East and Europe. While the idea of living and playing in a foreign country has him nervous, his friend Damon Hunter, a Basic graduate who has played in Germany and Austria, has been giving him advice.

Hunter also helped Platt get involved with Back 2 Basics, the recreation team Platt has been playing on at Black Mountain Recreation Center.

"Mitch brings a lot to the table," Hunter said. "He's a great passer for his size. He has a good shot and he plays great defense. I think he can bring a lot to an overseas team. I think it would be a good chance for him to experience the world and make some money down the road."

Platt first made a name for himself at Green Valley, where the star center averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game as a senior, earning him Sunrise Region Most Valuable Player honors, as well as Southeast Division Player of the Year.

"We started Mitch on the junior varsity team as a freshman and called him up to varsity (halfway through the season)," former Gators coach Jim Allen said. "He was one of the most consistently hard workers I've ever coached. He was an amazing athlete."

Platt was ranked in the top 20 centers in the nation by several online recruiting services and gained the interest of Oregon.

After starting 22 games for Oregon as a freshman and 24 as a sophomore, Platt was sidelined with an injury for his entire junior year but saved his eligibility with a medical red-shirt. When he returned the following year, he said the Ducks' style of play had changed and the back-to-the-basket center wasn't as important.

"My time with Oregon was the best five years of my life," Platt said. "Basketball-wise it didn't really go as I planned — it was kind of backwards. I played more as a freshman than as a senior. My style didn't fit anymore, but I still had a decent role off the bench. It was tough, but I loved every minute of it."

In four years with Oregon, Platt collected 289 points and 206 rebounds and played in the Ducks' first-round loss to Mississippi State in last year's NCAA tournament. Platt never got the chance to play in the Ducks' Elite Eight run the previous year, but he was thankful for the opportunity to experience the ups and down of the run.

"Just being there was like a dream for me," he said. "It was amazing to look around and see all the fans. You have to take a step back and just play basketball or you'll get to caught up in how big it is."

Now Platt is hoping he'll have the chance to relive the magic overseas. Until then, he's happy staying in shape in the recreation leagues.

"I was just looking for an organized league where I could get a decent workout in," he said. "I'm not looking to prove anything when I play. I just want to stay healthy and get some exercise in while I wait. Some of these guys are pretty good, though."

Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].