DETROIT (10/18/2024) -- University of Detroit Mercy freshman Miles Mitchell couldn't see himself playing anywhere other than in his hometown.

A Detroiter who played his high school ball at Warren Lincoln, he wanted nothing more than to stay in the Motor City. He had family that played here and knew prior coaches, and when the offer came to be a Titan, Mitchell knew it was exactly what he wanted.

"Detroit is my home and coach Monty and the coaching staff believed in me and wanted me to be here," said Mitchell. "I just thought he was the best coach for me. This was my home team. They have a great history. Last year was last year, but this is my home team."

Mitchell's cousin is former Titan Chuck Bailey, who played for UDM from 2004-06 under Hall of Fame head coach Perry Watson. He also had an aunt who graduated from the school, and from those connections, he knows what can be achieved at the McNichols and Livernois. 

"My cousin played here, and I am friends with some of the older coaches, so I know a lot about this place and what it can be," said Mitchell. "Chuck told me about the rich history, the big wins the school has had. It has been a bit down, but he said you can do great things here. He said I can be a great fit to help get it back on track."

Family is what got Mitchell into basketball. He was the little brother, with one of his older brothers playing at Central Michigan. Being the young brother in the backyard, he knew basketball was his future. 

"My oldest brother played at Central Michigan and my other older brother played high school, so I just followed in their footsteps," added Mitchell. 

Just being a part of a family was the final seal for Mitchell. The coaching staff, led by head coach Mark Montgomery, is more than coaches, and when they wanted him to stay, it was a match made in heaven. 

"They are all great guys," said Mitchell. "Coach Monty is like a father figure to me. He gives me great advice outside of basketball, and we have had some great talks daily. I have known Coach Stone forever, and he is a great guy to talk to. All of them have great experiences and want the best for you."

As for his play on the court, Titan fans will always know that Mitchell is in the building, and he plans to make sure the crowd is a part of the team and the program's success. 

"I am an energy guy. I am full of energy. Dunks, blocks, screaming on the court, I am hoping to get the crowd pumped. The crowd can really help us so I am hoping to do some things to get them going," said Mitchell.