Alumni Spotlight with Kenny Mitchell '97

Kenny ended his Dartmouth career with two records in tow. His 70 steals in 1996-97 and his 203 assists in the same season both top the charts for the Big Green. Mitchell enjoyed his stay in Hanover so much he is pursuing his MBA at Dartmouth.

Tell us a little bit about your background, where you are from, what your major was and how you came to the Ivy League.

I was raised in Flint, Mich., until the age of 13, spending the rest of my teenage years in Wilmington, Del. At Dartmouth, I was a Sociology Major with a minor in Economics. During high school, I was recruited by Ivy League schools and a few mid majors following my school winning it's second consecutive state championship my junior year.

Was there a time when you thought, "Hey, I could go to an Ivy League school" or was that always in your mind?

It was always in the back of my mind. My former high-school coach, Gil Jackson, left my high school to become an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in encouraging me to seriously consider Ivy League schools as an option.

What perceptions did you have about the Ivy League when you first arrived?

I expected the school to be full of nerds and snobs.

How did those perceptions met with reality?

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of genuine, good people I met. However, I still met a fair share of nerds and snobs, too.

What about going to an Ivy League school most appealed to you?

I liked the opportunity to get a great education that would be respected anywhere in the world, while at the same time being able to be a competitive athlete at a Division I program.

As an African-American, what experiences have stood out to you about adjusting to college in the Ivy League?

My college advisor once told me that "at Dartmouth, you will have a chance to be a big fish in a small pond." And his premonition definitely came true. Not only was I involved in the school's most successful basketball campaign in several decades, I flourished as a person at Dartmouth because of all of the support that was made available. Although it was (very) cold in New Hampshire, I found a good set of friends, studied hard, competed hard on the basketball court, and really enjoyed my four years. And I must not have been bothered too much by the weather, I'm back at Dartmouth getting my MBA!

What were some of the most memorable moments for you as an athlete and a student?

Many memories stand out for me… some good, some bad. Turning the ball over nine times in my first college game was definitely BAD. Leading the nation (NCAA) in assists my senior year was very good. Beating Penn to stop their 53 or 54 game Ivy win streak was memorable, as was beating them in the Palestra my senior year.

What historical figure do you admire most and why?

There are many great historic figures that come to mind, however Paul Robeson is definitely someone I deeply respect and admire. He was a Rhodes Scholar, All-American athlete, actor, orator, and an opinionated civil rights spokesman. I don't know of many people doing it like that nowadays. He was versatile, talented and amazing.

Who had the biggest influence on you as you grew up? Why?

My mother along with my aunt and uncle (Claudette and Reginald) were my biggest influences growing up. My mother was a single mom who went to school while raising two sons in Flint. She worked very hard to keep me on my path academically and spiritually. She is my one of my best friends. My aunt and uncle helped raise me during my teenage years, and they provided incredible guidance on how to be a student and an athlete. They had raised two daughters who were fantastic scholar athletes, themselves.

In an age of ultra-glorification of athletes and sports, what would be the best advice you could give to a middle schooler about the value of education, and the best role for sports in their education?

The NBA only has 325 to 350 players in the entire league at any one time. There are millions and millions of people who are junior high, high school, and college athletes. With such slim odds, I recommend having a back-up plan that you are excited about. Whether it is science, law, acting, photography, or music, look for something that excites you and do your best to learn all you can about it. Continue to be curious and think of things you would like to do with your life besides playing ball, and make that your parallel dream -- something you continue to strive for as you try to be a great athlete. By no means should anyone give up their aspirations to be the best athlete -- that should always be the goal -- but always be realistic and work to have options in your life.

What would be the best advice you could give to a young African-American who has aspirations to attend an Ivy institution?

Don't be afraid of giving that extra effort to reach your goal. High school goes by quickly and you only get one opportunity at it. Give it your all and you will be able to go any place you want. Good Luck!!

***Please note, this story was written for a previous Ivy League Black History Month celebration. It is reproduced here for archival purposes and has not been updated.***