Georgia State hoops picks up Alabama transfer

Devin Mitchell, a transfer from Alabama, has committed to play for Georgia State’s men’s basketball team.

Mitchell, a 6-foot-4 guard, is a former standout at Collins Hill High School.

He averaged 0.6 points in 5.4 minutes per game as a freshman last season with the Tide. Georgia State wouldn’t comment on Mitchell’s decision, citing NCAA rules.

Mitchell was named to Atlanta Journal Constitution Class AAAAAA first team all-state in 2014 after averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a senior. As a junior, he led all Gwinnett County players with 20.2 points per game.

Mitchell told reporters in Alabama that he decided to leave the program because he and new coach Avery Johnson had “a mutual understanding that being here probably wasn’t going to be that good of an opportunity for me as far as playing.”

The Panthers, which won the Sun Belt’s regular season and tournament titles, have two scholarships remaining.

Georgia State has become a landing spot for transfers under coach Ron Hunter. Mitchell could follow Manny Atkins (Virginia Tech), Curtis Washington (USC), Ryan Harrow (Kentucky) and Kevin Ware (Louisville).

Ware is among several players who will return from last year’s team, along with forwards Markus Crider, T.J. Shipes and Jordan Session and guards Isaiah Dennis and Jeff Thomas.