Mitchell Grabs First Team All-Northwest Conference Honors

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior post Cameron Mitchell (Portland, OR/Grant HS/Univ. of Redlands), who led the Northwest Conference with 11.8 rebounds per game and ranked third in scoring with 16.7 points per contest, has been selected First Team All-NWC by the league's head men's basketball coaches. Kyler McClary (Sr., Post, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) of Willamette earned Second Team All-NWC honors for the second season in a row.

Mitchell scored 385 points to go with 272 rebounds during the season, and recorded 14 double-doubles for the Bearcats. He also shot 55.0% from the field and led the 'Cats with 22 blocked shots. He scored 35 points against Pomona-Pitzer on Nov. 29, nearly matching his career high of 36, set last season against the University of Puget Sound on Feb. 23, 2008.

This year, he scored 25 points and hauled down 23 rebounds at Whitman College on Feb. 7. His 23 boards were the third highest total in Willamette history and the most since the school record of 36 was set by Ken Ashley in 1962. Mitchell also hit 13 of 13 free throws against Whitman to set a Willamette record for the most free throws made in a game while shooting 100%.

In the next to the last game of the season on Feb. 20, Mitchell scored 24 points and grabbed 21 rebounds versus George Fox University. His 20-20 effort helped Willamette defeat the Bruins, 87-82, to clinch an overall winning record for the season.

During his first two season at Willamette, Mitchell has scored 672 points (14.6 avg.) and contributed 479 rebounds (10.4 avg.). He has a career shooting percentage of 56.6% for the Bearcats.

McClary followed closely behind Mitchell on WU's scoring chart this year, as he scored 372 points for an average of 16.2 points per game. McClary also provided the Bearcats with 5.6 rebounds per contest. He ranked fifth in the NWC in scoring and was ninth in rebounding.

He started all 23 games for WU and scored in double figures 19 times. He hit 36 of 100 three-point shots and led the team with an average of 33.1 minutes played. He matched a career high by scoring 30 points against George Fox University on Jan. 23. He also tied a career high with 12 rebounds versus Whitworth University on Jan. 9.

McClary scored 1,104 career points and averaged 13.0 points per game during his four years with the 'Cats. He also grabbed 423 career rebounds (5.0 avg.). He played in 85 games, including 74 starts.

Willamette finished the year at 12-11 overall and 8-8 in the NWC (5th place). The Bearcats were in the running for one of the four NWC Tournament berths until the final day of the season.

Overall, 19 players received All-NWC recognition. Seven players were named to the First Team, with five on the Second Team and seven on the Honorable Mention list.

Mitchell was joined on the All-NWC First Team by Jason Foster (Sr., F), Robert Krauel (Sr., F) and Antwan Williams (Sr., G) from the University of Puget Sound, Ross Nakamura (Sr., G) and David Riley (So., G) from Whitworth, and Chris Faidley (Sr., G) from Whitman. Foster was chosen NWC Player of the Year. Head Coach Justin Lunt from Puget Sound was named NWC coach of the Year after leading the Loggers to the NWC regular season title.