Mitchell Watt (basketball)

Mitchell Watt (born December 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for Casademont Zaragoza of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the University at Buffalo, where he was an All-American and Mid-American Conference (MAC) player of the year.

College career
Watt, a 6'10" forward-center from Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona, 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, 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 and 2.2 blocked shots 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 at the 2012 Final Four.

Professional career

2012–13 season
In April 2012, Watt participated in the pre-NBA Draft Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where he set the tournament record for blocked shots with 13.

After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft, Watt joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2012 NBA Summer League. On August 2, 2012, he signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Basketball Super League.

2013–14 season
In July 2013, Watt joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2013 NBA Summer League. On August 18, 2013, he signed a one-year deal with Ironi Nes Ziona.

2014–15 season
In July 2014, Watt joined the Golden State Warriors for the 2014 NBA Summer League. 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 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 roster for the 2015 NBA Summer League. On August 16, he signed with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga. He parted ways with Berlin in March 2016.

2016–17 season
In August 2016, Watt signed with JuveCaserta of the top Italian league, Serie A. Averaged 14.9 points, 9.0 rebounds was named team MVP.

2017–18 season
In August 2017 signed a 2-year deal with Reyer Venezia. On 2 May 2018, Watt won the FIBA Europe Cup 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.
 Named Italian League MVP For January 2021

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

2022–23 season

 Eurocup MVP of Round 15 - 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists with a PIR of 34.
 eurobasket all Italian second team.
 surpassed 3000 points in Italian league. 
 Left reyer after 2023 season, top 5 in club history for points (2581), rebounds(1019), blocks(188) and games played (321).

2023–24 season
On September 25, 2023, Watt signed with  Casademont Zaragoza of the Liga ACB.

References

External links
Israeli Super League profile
Buffalo Bulls bio

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 players
Ironi Nes Ziona B.C. players
Juvecaserta Basket players
Lega Basket Serie A players
Sportspeople from Maricopa County, Arizona
Power forwards (basketball)
Reyer Venezia players
Santa Cruz Warriors players