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Morristown West basketball standout Jhaniya Mitchell is headed exactly where she wants to be at the next level.

Mitchell announced Friday that she will continue her academic and athletic career at Walters State.

Mitchell had no shortage of appreciation for those who helped pave her path to the next level.

“It means the world to me,” Mitchell said. “When I first came to West, I had a plan, and I think I’ve executed that plan. I’d like to thank Coach G (Johnny Galyon) for all four years, and then I’d like to thank Coach (Jaclynn) Larance for the two years she’s been here. She’s inspired me a lot. She’s the reason why I am who I am today, and she’s the reason why I think I am going to execute at the next level. I like to think Coach (Heather) Kelly, she, as well as Coach G and Coach Larance has always told me to use my left hand, but when I didn’t, Coach Larance was always on me about, so I’d like to thank her. Coach (Kristi) Shisler was my elementary school coach. I would like to thank her, because that’s where I started. Started from the bottom. Now we’re here. Then I would like to thank Coach (Kelsea) Rainey. She’s just my best friend, and she was my middle school coach, and I will always love her.

While her coaches helped her get to where she needed to be on the court, it was her family that helped her keep pushing.

“My mom and my dad inspired me a lot, especially my mom,” Mitchell said. “When I wanted to give up, she was always there for me, and she made sure that I kept pushing through everything that’s been going on with school and sports. She always told me to keep my head up and told me that we would get through this together.”

Mitchell also credited her grandfather, Bobby Davis, for motivating her along the way.

“He always has his slogan, ‘Do something,’” Mitchell said. “And I feel like I’ve done something.”

Larance said she quickly saw the potential in the Lady Trojan standout.

“When I first got to watch her practice, I knew right then and there, she was meant to go play at the collegiate level,” Larance said. “So she had a lot of potential. She’s got a great work ethic. She’s a great teammate. She pushes you, and she’s very coachable, and she’s got a great attitude, great body language. She’s grown a lot over the last two years in the program, and she’s excelled very quickly since I’ve coached her. I know Coach Galyon has done a phenomenal job coaching her since her freshman year, and Coach Kelly, as well. So they’ve done a great job with her, and she’s meant to play at the next level. She has what it takes, and she’s very capable, and she’s very fun to be around. She’ll bring you joy and make you smile. So you can’t ask for a better kid than that.”

Larance believes that Mitchell has helped set a new standard for the program as it moves into a new era.

“I want girls to come through my program and to see Jhaniya being able to make it at the next level,” she said. “They kind of got to see what it took for her to get there, and how hard it is, and that no matter where you start, if that’s your goal and that’s your dream, as long as you work hard, put in the work and practice for it, you can achieve big things like that and excel to the next level.”

Walters State was at the top of Mitchell’s list of schools, and the Lady Senators are coming off a successful season where they reached the NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship Quarterfinals.

Though head coach Jasmin Coleman stepped down from her position last week, Mitchell still believes that the school is the best path for her.

“Walter State was actually the first college on my list for schools I wanted to go to,” she said. “So to be able to go there and have the coaches see my potential is really inspiring to me. It lets me know that I still have it, even when I feel like I don’t. And obviously, with Coach Coleman leaving, some changes are going to be made, but I know that my family and God are going to create a great path for me, so I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish.”

As a senior, Mitchell averaged 18.1 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game and leaves West as a member of the 1,000-point club with 1,498 points with 557 rebounds and 144 blocks. While she was a standout on the court, she feels that she made a similar impact in the hallways.

“West has a very special place in my heart, from friends to coaches and teachers,” Mitchell said. “I think I’ve really put myself out there so people know that I have good intentions and know me for sports and for basketball, but also for me being very kind and being somebody they can come to, and sometimes I’ll walking in the hallways, and the teachers are always out there joking with me, I just think I’ve made a great impact here at West.”

Larance believes Mitchell’s growth at West has prepared her well for the next level.

“I expect her to be mentally tough and to use her left hand,” Larance joked. “So she knows that we’ve all been harping on her to use her left, and I think when she goes to that next level, she’ll also be pushed and have more confidence in herself and her abilities because she’s seen what she’s done at West. I know that she’s capable of doing those same things when she goes off to the college level, too. So I think they’re getting a really great player, not only a great basketball player, but a really wonderful person that you want to have on your team.”