Donovan Mitchell Tells Yoeli Childs To ‘Stay Strong’ After NCAA Suspension

PROVO, Utah – There isn’t a more beloved sports figure in the state of Utah these days than Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.  Somehow, “Spida” continues to find ways to get fans up and down the state of Utah to continue to love him even more.

Now BYU fans are loving themselves some Spida Mitchell if they didn’t already.

Mitchell went to his personal Instagram account on the IG stories portion and shared a message to BYU basketball’s star forward Yoeli Childs while wearing a pair of BYU Stance socks that featured the Cougars mascot, Cosmo.

“One time for my man @YoChilds22 stay strong bro. They doing you dirty but we got your back @BYUbasketball,” said Mitchell.

Donovan truly is a man of the people 🙌 pic.twitter.com/1RPhIYJ1B5

— The Roar Of Cougars (@byuROC) August 14, 2019

It was announced last Friday that Childs, a senior forward for the BYU basketball team, was suspended the first nine games of the 2019-20 season by the NCAA.  The NCAA determined that Childs’ signing with an agent when he withdrew from school and entered the NBA Draft process was impermissible due to the fact that he signed with an agent before filing paperwork required by the NCAA.

The Jazz star has always shown support to the local colleges and their athletes.  Mitchell once attended a BYU basketball game during his rookie season with the Jazz to see former Cougar Elijah Bryant who he played against in high school ball.

Mitchell has been vocal on NCAA issues in the past, including the NCAA scandal that involved his alma mater Louisville and ended up taking away the Cardinals 2013 National Championship banner. (See tweet below)

✊🏾🙏🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/WaL9VEwBcc

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 27, 2017

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe expressed his gratitude to Mitchell for showing support for the Cougars suspended student-athlete.

Love Donovan looking out for Yoeli. https://t.co/Nxd6aiLSaB

— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) August 14, 2019

BYU head coach Mark Pope said on Friday the appeal the university and athletic department to have the suspension gone has already been denied.

#BYU and Mark Pope appealed the Yoeli Childs suspension and they are "incredibly disappointed" that the appeal wasn't granted.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 9, 2019

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.