Iowa State’s first look at Xzavion Mitchell in 2025-26 never really got off the ground, and then injury shut the door on the rest of his freshman season.
Mitchell appeared in seven early-season games before the injury ended his year. Even in those minutes, his role was limited to late-game duty in lopsided wins. Iowa State won every game he played in by at least 25 points, and he never got more than four minutes in any of those appearances.
The numbers were modest: 1.0 point and 0.3 rebounds in 2.9 minutes per game. His best scoring night came against Grambling State, when he finished with a career-high six points.
That limited usage fit the picture that emerged before the season even began. In Iowa State’s two exhibition games, Mitchell logged just one minute in a 71-58 loss to Creighton and then did not play in a home exhibition win over Northwestern. At that point, his route to minutes in a frontcourt that included Blake Buchanan, Joshua Jefferson and fellow freshman Dominykas Pleta already looked crowded.
Before the season, T.J. Otzelberger pointed to Mitchell’s daily approach and his upside on both ends of the floor.
"I'd say at this point, him continuing to stay days every single day. Where he's bringing value to that group," T.J.
Otzelberger said before the season. "He does have some versatility, both defensively and offensively that could be an asset for us at some points this season.
"I think, for him, it's about keeping that focus on it. Knowing that at some point, opportunity is going to present itself. And stay ready, so you don't have to get ready."
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