Mitchell Named National Finalist For CLASS Award

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina senior guard Tiffany Mitchell has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2015-16 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate women’s basketball, the organization announced on Friday. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award recognizes the total-student athlete, and encourages students to use their platform to make a positive impact in their communities.

Mitchell possesses all four of the components of this award – community, classroom, character and competition – as the two-time team captain for the Gamecocks, who earned their third-straight SEC regular-season title on Thursday. Through her work with her sorority and team, Mitchell has given back to the community using her engaging personality to establish personal connections with her peers.

The Charlotte, N.C., native has also set an example in the classroom, as she was named to the President’s List (4.0 GPA) for the last two semesters after possessing one of the team’s highest GPAs. Her leadership on the court helped her become a finalist for all three national player of the year awards in 2015, and Mitchell has earned All-America honors in each of the last two seasons.

This season, Mitchell has once again been one of South Carolina’s most consistent players on both ends of the court. She ranks second on the team with 14.8 points per game to go along with a team-high 64 assists, and the guard’s 44 steal are good for the second-highest mark among Gamecocks. Her production has improved throughout the season, and Mitchell has been at her best in conference play. The senior ranks in the top five in scoring and field goal percentage in league action, and her 2.9 assists and 1.5 3-pointers per contest are among the top ten.

Mitchell and the nine other finalists have been placed on the official ballot for the award. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches, and fans who will select the candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Senior CLASS Award Finalists

Jillian Alleyne, Oregon

Adut Bulgak, Florida State

Aundrea Gamble, Arkansas State

Ruth Hamblin, Oregon State

Bria Holmes, West Virginia

Moriah Jefferson, UConn

Jonquel Jones, George Washington

Kelsey Minato, Army West Point

Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina

Breanna Stewart, UConn