Mitchell Watt (born December 14, 1989) is an American professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player for
Reyer Venezia
S.S.P. Reyer Venezia Mestre, commonly known as Reyer Venezia or simply Reyer, is an Italian professional basketball club that is based in Venice, Veneto. The club currently plays in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), the highest tier of basketball in ...
of the Italian
Lega Basket Serie A
The Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) is a professional men's club basketball league that has been organised in Italy since 1920. Serie A is organised by Lega Basket, which is regulated by the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP). It is the highest-tier le ...
(LBA) and the
EuroCup. He played college basketball for the
University at Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The university was founded in 1846 ...
, where he was an
All-American and
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twel ...
(MAC) player of the year.
College career
Watt, a 6'10"
forward
Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward.
Forward may also refer to:
People
* Forward (surname)
Sports
* Forward (association football)
* Forward (basketball), including:
** Point forward
** Power forward (basketball)
** Sm ...
-
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
from
Desert Edge High School in
Goodyear, Arizona
Goodyear (O'odham: ''Valin Thak'') is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is a suburb of Phoenix and at the 2020 census had a population of 95,294, up from 65,275 in 2010 and 18,911 in 2000. It was the third-fastest-growing ci ...
, came to
Buffalo to play for coach
Reggie Witherspoon. After cracking the starting lineup as a freshman in
2008–09, Watt established himself as one of the top defensive players in the MAC, earning the nickname sWatt. As a sophomore, Watt battled
Guillain–Barré syndrome
Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system. Typically, both sides of the body are involved, and the initial symptoms are changes in sensation or pain often ...
, which limited his effectiveness.
His role was largely as a rebounder and defensive stopper his first three years. As a junior, he averaged 8.0
points, 5.3
rebounds
'Rebound' is a term used in sports to describe the ball (or puck or other object of play) becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful. Rebounds are generally ...
and 2.2
blocked shot
In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender is not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand (unless the de ...
s per game.
As a senior, Watt continued his strong defensive play, but also nearly doubled his scoring output. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. He led the Bulls to a 12-4 MAC record and was named
conference player of the year[ and an AP honorable mention All-American. For his career, Watt scored 1,061 points (8.3 per game), 565 rebounds (4.4 per game) and 195 blocks (1.5 per game). At the end of his career, Watt was invited to play in the ]Reese's College All-Star Game
The Reese's College All-Star Game, founded by the NABC, is a men's college basketball game showcasing 20 of the best senior players in NCAA Division I. The two teams are coached by current and/or former college basketball coaches. The game is ...
at the 2012 Final Four.
Professional career
2012–13 season
In April 2012, Watt participated in the pre-NBA Draft Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, (PIT), is the oldest amateur basketball tournament in the United States and the only postseason camp restricted to college basketball seniors. The Portsmouth Invitational is the first of two NBA pre-Draft ( ...
, where he set the tournament record for blocked shots with 13.
After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft
The 2012 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2012, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Asso ...
, Watt joined the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
for the 2012 NBA Summer League. On August 2, 2012, he signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Gilboa Galil
Hapoel Gilboa Galil ( he, הפועל גלבוע גליל) is a professional basketball club that is based in north-east Israel. The club plays its home game in the Israeli Basketball Premier League (the top tier of Israeli basketball) in a 2,250 ...
of the Israeli Basketball Super League
Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional competition in Israeli club basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball co ...
.
2013–14 season
In July 2013, Watt joined the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...
for the 2013 NBA Summer League
The 2013 NBA Summer League is a pro basketball league run by the NBA just after the 2013 NBA draft. It gives newly drafted players a chance to test their skills against each other, and to give them a feel for professional basketball. All 30 NBA ...
. On August 18, 2013, he signed a one-year deal with Ironi Nes Ziona
Ironi Ness Ziona B.C. (or spelled as Ironi Nes Ziona B.C.) is a professional basketball club based in Ness Ziona, Israel. The team plays its home games at the Lev Hamoshava, which has capacity for 1,200 people. The club plays in the Israeli Bask ...
.
2014–15 season
In July 2014, Watt joined the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. Founded in 194 ...
for the 2014 NBA Summer League
The 2014 NBA Summer League consists of two pro basketball leagues organized by the NBA and the Orlando Magic just after the 2014 NBA Draft. Ten teams took part in the week-long summer league at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, from July 5 t ...
. On September 2, 2014, he signed with the Warriors. However, he was later waived by the Warriors on October 24, 2014. On November 3, 2014, he was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors
The Santa Cruz Warriors are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Santa Cruz, California, and are affiliated with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors play their home games at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Prior to ...
as an affiliate player. On December 22, 2014, he left Santa Cruz and signed with his former team Ironi Nes Ziona of Israel for the rest of the season.
2015–16 season
On July 6, 2015, Watt was announced as a member of the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
roster for the 2015 NBA Summer League
The 2015 NBA Summer League consisted of three pro basketball leagues organized by the NBA: the Orlando Pro Summer League, Utah Jazz Summer League, and Las Vegas Summer League.
Ten teams participated in the week-long Orlando Pro Summer League a ...
. On August 16, he signed with Alba Berlin
Alba Berlin is a German professional basketball club that is based in Berlin, Germany. The club was founded in 1991, and is today the largest German national basketball club by membership figures. Alba Berlin hosts its home games at the Mercedes ...
of the Basketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) (English language: ''Federal Basketball League''), for sponsorship reasons named easyCredit BBL, is the highest level league of professional club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season ...
. He parted ways with Berlin in March 2016.
2016–17 season
In August 2016, Watt signed with JuveCaserta
Sporting Club JuveCaserta (sometimes spelled Juve Caserta), also known as Decò Caserta after its title sponsor, is an Italian professional basketball team based in Caserta, Campania. The team currently plays in the Serie A2, the second tier of Ita ...
of the top Italian league, Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Coppa ...
.
2017–18 season
In August 2017 signed a 2 year deal with Reyer Venezia. On 2 May 2018, Watt won the FIBA Europe Cup
The FIBA Europe Cup (FEC) is an annual professional club basketball competition organised by FIBA for eligible European clubs. It is FIBA's European-wide second level. Clubs mainly qualify for the competition based on their performance in nation ...
with Reyer Venezia. Averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 Rebounds. Finished 3rd place in Italian League.
2018-19 season
In June 2019 won the Italian league championship with Reyer Venezia. Finalist for Italian league MVP. Averaged 15.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, Lead the league with 70.1 FG% named all Italian league second team. Has played in 126 straight games with Reyer Venezia. 2 Time round league MVP including a 27 point 9 rebound vs Avellino.
2019-20 season
Won 2020 final eight Italian Cup with Reyer Venezia. Selected First Team all Final Eight Cup.Eurocup regular season round 6 MVP v Partizan NIS With 27 points 11/12 FG 37 value. Reyer made quarterfinals of Eurocup but was suspended indefinitely due to covid-19. He averaged 12.9 points per game and 5.1 rpg With a value of 14.6 and named euro basket all eurocup honorable mention. In Italian Lega Basket he averaged 14.5 points per game 7.4 rebounds per game with 18.4 value. He was named Lega Basket Serie A First Team All Defensive Center and Lega Basket Serie A First Team center.
2020–21 season
On June 22, 2020, Watt signed a multi-year contract extension with Reyer Venezia.
2021–22 season
* Eurocup Honorable Mention 2022
* Sportando Second Team Serie A
* Italian League MVP For November 2021
* 31 games played watt ranked 10th with 14.7ppg, 6th with 7.1rpg second with 1.4bpg and 4th with 19.5 rating per game
References
External links
Israeli Super League profileBuffalo Bulls bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watt, Mitchell
1989 births
Living people
Alba Berlin players
American expatriate basketball people in Germany
American expatriate basketball people in Israel
American expatriate basketball people in Italy
American expatriate basketball people in the United Arab Emirates
American men's basketball players
Basketball players from Arizona
Buffalo Bulls men's basketball players
Centers (basketball)
Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon players
Ironi Nes Ziona B.C. players
Juvecaserta Basket players
Lega Basket Serie A players
People from Maricopa County, Arizona
Power forwards (basketball)
Reyer Venezia players
Santa Cruz Warriors players
Sportspeople from the Phoenix metropolitan area
People with Guillain–Barré syndrome