![]() ![]() Playing for Head Coach Travis Turner, Mitchell was a four-time all-state tight end and a USA Today All Virginia First-Team selection. In 2017, James Mitchell was named VHSL 2A Offensive Player of the Year and helped guide Union to a trip to the 2A semifinals. His father, Pastor Jimmy Mitchell, was also an outstanding athlete in football and basketball at Powell Valley High School. ![]() His mother, Marcia, played basketball at Brown University. James Mitchell is from Big Stone Gap, near the Kentucky border, where he was a standout athlete in three sports– football, basketball and track. “Nicholas would have stayed all night,” said his mom. Patterson topped off the excitement for Nicholas by spending a half hour or so passing footballs afterwards in the parking lot. Shown left to right are Sam Toney, Quincy Patterson, Nicholas Toney, James Mitchell, and Martha Toney. Nicholas Toney and his parents, are avid Virginia Tech fans, attending as many home games as possible. The players not only enthusiastically watched the game (which the Cavs handily won), they hung around afterwards to talk with and take a photo with every single child, parent, or coach who asked. Mitchell brought along Tech quarterback Quincy Patterson. The Toneys invited Mitchell to the February 1 rec league game at William Byrd Middle School between Nicholas’s team– the Vinton Cavs– and the North Roanoke Hurricanes. They exchanged numbers so that they could stay in touch.” After that, Nicholas and James would meet up after each game and do the tunnel walk. Nicholas walked with James through the historic tunnel from the stadium over to the athletic facilities. “Nicholas met James Mitchell, and they just seemed to hit it off. “After the UNC game on October 19, Nicholas and I went over to the West stands where the players’ families sit and where you can meet the players,” Martha Toney said. 1 to watch their friend Nicholas Toney play rec league basketball with the Vinton Cavs–to the delight of not only Toney, but an entire gymnasium full of players, their families, and coaches (photo by Debbie Adams). Virginia Tech football players Quincy Patterson (on left) and James Mitchell drove down from Blacksburg on Feb. The Toney family, including parents Martha and Sam, are avid Virginia Tech fans. Maybe having two star Virginia Tech football players– tight End James Mitchell and quarterback Quincy Patterson– drive from Blacksburg on a Saturday evening to watch you play. What might “best day ever” look like for an 11-year-old rec league basketball player in Vinton? ![]()
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