SL's Taniejah Mitchell commits to LCC for basketball

South Lenoir’s Taniejah Mitchell, seated center, committed to Lenoir Community College Tuesday. Sitting next to Mitchell are her aunts, Tasha Mitchell, left, and Sanya Koonce, and standing next to her are, from left, South Lenoir head coach Donald Mooring, LCC head coach Terrance Demingo, and South Lenoir principal Steve Saint-Amand. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

DEEP RUN — Taniejah Mitchell is staying local next season.

The South Lenoir basketball standout committed to Lenoir Community College Tuesday. Mitchell did a bit of everything for the Blue Devils last season, leading the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (8.7 rpg), steals (2.4 spg) and blocks (1.1 bpg) as the team made it to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Mitchell played a solid role in South Lenoir’s Eastern Carolina Conference regular-season title in the 2016-17 campaign and while she suffered a season-ending injury her junior year, she came back with a vengeance in 2018-19.

“She has great character, which really showed after the injury,” South Lenoir coach Donald Mooring said. “Her potential showed as a sophomore to play at the next level, and not only did she come back from the injury, but expanded her game. This offseason is going to be tough as we look for someone who can go to work in the post for us and execute. Taniejah was a special player and we were thankful to have her. It’ll also be great to be able to see her play with her former teammate, Makayla Simmons.”

Mitchell, who plans to study radiography, said LCC was a great fit for her.

“I wanted to be closer to home and I felt like they had a good program,” Mitchell said. “Now, I have to go out there and do what I can to help the team.”

Lancers head coach Terrance Demingo said he liked Mitchell’s skillset, as the South Lenoir forward could work in the post and hit the outside jump shot.

“She’s athletic and has an understanding of what it takes to win,” Demingo said. “It’s pretty exciting to have local talent here at LCC and she’s willing to help us build a strong program.”

Sanya Koonce, Mitchell’s aunt, said she believes her niece will carve a strong niche at the next level.

“Ball is life for her and when it comes to the sport she puts her heart into it,” Koonce said. “Academically she’ll do very well because basketball will be her reward, which will push her to do better. She’s got a great support system and she’s overcome a lot to get to this point, which has really helped her.”

Another aunt, Tasha Mitchell, shared similar sentiments.

“I think she will put her all into this,” Mitchell said. “It was hard to get her to play early on, but once she got comfortable with the game, you couldn’t stop her.”

Overall, Taniejah Mitchell said she will apply lessons she learned at South Lenoir to LCC.

“I’ll take my sportsmanship and knowledge of the game to LCC,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully we can have a great year.”