Mitchell Wilbekin spent years at The Rock School dazzling crowds with his tight handles, smooth jumper, and elite basketball IQ.
And now, the former standout guard is bringing that same basketball IQ to the front office of an NBA franchise.
Wilbekin, a 2014 graduate of The Rock, now serves with the Memphis Grizzlies as a Basketball Operations Assistant. The Grizzlies are looking to build on a 51-31 season in which the team finished as the No. 2 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Destined for Success
As those who know Wilbekin will tell you, it’s no surprise he’s succeeding in a career off the court after seeing so much success on it.
What is it that drives his success?
“Mitchell has always had a top-notch work ethic,” said Justin Harden, Wilbekin’s head coach at The Rock.
“Mitchell would spend hours working on his game when others would grow tired. There is no doubt that the same work ethic that earned him a scholarship to Wake Forest will also allow him to succeed and advance in the NBA front office.”
A Rock Lion All-Star
The 28-year-old Wilbekin first joined The Rock’s National Team as a 7th grader and ended his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,755 points.
Wilbekin helped lead the Lions to a state championship in his senior year, where he was also named SIAA Player of the Year.
After high school, Wilbekin’s talents then took him to Wake Forest University, where he started 89 games and ended as one of the top 3-point shooters in Demon Deacons’ history.
Wilbekin’s professional playing career landed him on several successful teams in Europe and, most recently, with the G-League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.
Taking the Next Step
After a successful playing career at the high school, college, and professional levels, Wilbekin is now committing his talents to supporting a franchise at the highest level of basketball.
“Mitchell is a driven young man,” Harden said. “I think Memphis is a great place for him to get started because they have a young team that is driven to continue to improve, even after a rather successful season last year.”
“I look forward to seeing what the Grizzlies do on the court, but also what Mitchell is able to help them do in the front office.”
