by Shawn Nowlin
There are 361 NCAA D-1 basketball programs. At the start of each season, they all have aspirations of ultimately making the Big Dance. Come Selection Sunday though, which occurred on March 15 this year, just 68 schools hear their name called.
Five schools throughout the Commonwealth made the 2026 tournament: University of Virginia (men, women), Virginia Commonwealth University (men), James Madison University (women), University of Richmond (women) and Virginia Tech (women).
When the tourney tips off this week, the City of Roanoke will be well represented. Two players with strong Star City ties – Elijah Mitchell (William Fleming) and Jada Cook (Patrick Henry) – will play a vital role in their respective team’s success.
Mitchell’s per game averages of nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc and two rebounds helped Prairie View A&M win 18 games. An indispensable part of the Panther’s offensive, when Mitchell is on, the sophomore is one of the best shooters in the nation.
“All year, I’ve been telling my guys that if everyone buys into their role, we are going to make the tournament in March. Elijah is a great locker room guy. Every coach would love to have someone like him in their program,” Head Coach Byron Smith said after winning the SWAC Tournament Championship.
Cook’s role at Murray State has grown over the course of the season. A true freshman, she appeared in 32 games for the Racers while averaging nearly ten minutes per contest. Anyone who has ever watched her play knows that she gives maximum effort when she’s on the floor, every single time.
After clinching a second straight tournament berth, Coach Rechelle Turner posted on social media, “While I am honored to be named Coach of the Year, the recognition truly belongs to the people around me. From our senior Briley Pena to our freshman Jada Cook, my players bring it daily with their work ethic, sacrifice and commitment to each other.”
To make it to the Sweet 16, Prairie View will need to defeat the defending champions, Florida Gators, and either Clemson or Purdue in the next round. If Murray State defeats Maryland then UNC-Chapel Hill or Western Illinois in the next round, they will accomplish that feat. An underdog just needs to be better than their opponent on one night to have their one shining moment.
In 1993, Roanoke native George Lynch led the North Carolina Tar Heels to an NCAA championship over the Michigan Wolverines. Twenty years later, former Hidden Valley standout Luke Hancock won Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after leading Louisville to the championship, also over the Wolverines, ironically enough.
Regardless of how far they go in the tournament, both Cook and Mitchell have made their hometown extremely proud. If their track record is any indication, the best is yet to come for both players.
