The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball's Elijah Mitrou-Long: A year of learning
11.02.2018 | Men's Basketball
Junior guard used sitting out during the 2017-18 season as an opportunity for growth and development.
by Kendall Garriss, Texas Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas - During the 2017-18 season, Elijah Mitrou-Long watched his teammates maneuver the highs and lows of Big 12 Conference play from the bench due to NCAA transfer rules. Despite not being on the court, Mitrou-Long used the year as an opportunity for growth, development and reflection.
Mitrou-Long spent his first two years of college playing at Mount St. Mary's University under the tutelage of Jamion Christian, a former assistant of Texas Head Coach Shaka Smart while Smart was at VCU. Mitrou-Long approaches the game with a level of humility, maturity and grace that is rarely seen in a 21-year-old.
"As a person, he's one of the best people you could ask to be in your program," said UT assistant coach Jai Lucas. "He has a respect for what he has here at Texas and what it means to be here. He appreciates everything he has."
That level of gratitude and appreciation took Mitrou-Long time to establish. As he progressed through his transfer season, Mitrou-Long was inundated with waves of uncertainty, doubt and frustration.
"People don't think about the mental aspect," Mitrou-Long reflected. "I didn't know until I got here how difficult (sitting out last year) was going to be. There were times when I thought to myself 'why did I even transfer' or 'was this the right move for me?'"
Senior forward Dylan Osetkowski, who also transferred into Texas and had to sit out a season, served as a pillar of support as Mitrou-Long navigated those challenging days.
"I talked to Dylan all the time about it," Mitrou-Long admitted. "He would tell me that I had to take it day-by-day and that it would only get harder the more I thought about it. He really helped me a lot when I was sitting out, because he and I shared the same experience."
Since he was unable to suit up last year, Mitrou-Long approached the game from a more analytical standpoint, allowing him to digest the ebbs and flows of play that can be difficult to do when one is participating in game action. Mitrou-Long's observations and guidance was pivotal in the development of point guard Matt Coleman III.
"With all the knowledge he had, he was always able to help me. He was someone that I could talk to," Coleman said. "He could see the frustration that I was going through as a freshman, and he wished he could be out there to help me."
Now entering his junior season and allowed to play in games, Mitrou-Long's teammates and coaches have lofty expectations for what he can contribute this year, both with his play on the court and as a leader in the locker room.
"Being one of the older guys, I would put him in the same category as Kerwin (Roach II) and Dylan (Osetkowksi)," Lucas said. "I see him being able to talk to the young guys, especially about the grind of the year and keeping them on par with our mission and what we want to achieve."
Although his journey to this point has not been an easy one, Mitrou-Long possesses a peace of mind that he is in the right place. Now, he's eager for the opportunities that lie ahead.
