[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Dillon Mitchell
Frame: 6’8″, 205 lbs
Position: Forward
School: Texas
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Mitchell’s offensive skill set is relatively limited, but he has shown growth between his freshman and sophomore years, which provides hope for NBA-level production. Most of his points come from inside or around the painted area, with 141 out of his 236 shots last season coming from “close two-point” range, including 60 dunks (via Barttorvik.com). 

Mitchell is a constant lob threat off of pick-and-rolls and backdoor cuts. He does a great job of recognizing these lanes to the basket and taking advantage by typically throwing down a big two-hand slam. Outside of dunking, however, Mitchell has a nice touch with patience around the rim, which allows him to score around the help defender on his cuts to the basket. He will sometimes shy away from contact and let the defense alter his shot or force a kickout. At the next level, he must become more confident in going right at the defense. 

Shooting is the most significant question mark in Mitchell’s game. Mitchell missed all eight attempts beyond the three-point line in his two seasons at Texas. In the midrange, however, his volume increased drastically from his first season to his second. He only knocked them down at a 27.6 percent rate (via Barttorvik), but these flashes, along with his high release, provide promise for the 20-year-old to continue to develop his shot. 

Mitchell is not much of a threat with the ball in his hands as he does not boast much ballhandling or playmaking ability, but he plays within his role very well to keep his weaknesses from negatively impacting the team. Once he gets the ball, he does not try to do too much; instead, he looks to find his teammates who can score or get into a dribble hand-off action with his guards and get them open.  

Mitchell thrives in transition. His athletic ability allows him to move up the floor quickly. In an odd-man rush, it will be very hard for the defense to stop him from throwing down a monster slam. 

Defense

Mitchell is a legitimate NBA prospect at this end of the floor. He can plug into any defensive lineup at 6’8″ with a 6’10” wingspan and take on whatever role is asked. He comfortably guards all positions, and while he may need to build more muscle to guard NBA bigs effectively, he will undoubtedly become an integral piece in NBA coaches’ defensive schemes. 

His ability to keep his man in front of him and force their direction is elite. Opponents do their best to switch their best players off of Mitchell. Unless a scorer can hit with a defender in his face or has very high-level ballhandling abilities, getting a good shot against Mitchell one-on-one is no easy task. 

Off the ball, he makes it very difficult for his matchup to even get the ball in the first place. He follows them around and stays glued to them until the possession ends. His versatility makes him highly switchable. It was not a rarity to see Mitchell immediately switched onto the opposing team’s scoring guard when necessary. 

He has a very high IQ as a help defender. He effectively times his help and stays disciplined by not overhelping off his man unless he needs to and not coming over too late to draw a foul.  

Mitchell finished second in defensive and second in total rebounds in the Big 12 this season. His athletic ability allows him to jump high and get rebounds early off the rim. His quick feet and lateral movements also let him move around slower big men and reach the rebound before they do. 

What ties his defensive abilities together is his willingness to hustle and do the dirty work. He puts much of his energy on display on the defensive end, often diving for loose balls and sprinting to close out shooters. 

Looking Ahead

While Mitchell’s inability to stretch the floor will likely see him still waiting for his name to be called after the first round, his elite defense and athleticism should see him get picked up in the second.

He will likely begin his NBA career by developing in the G League, which will allow him to adjust to the NBA’s larger matchups and continue to develop his three-point shot. However, do not be surprised to eventually see Mitchell playing essential minutes in the NBA, guarding the opposing team’s best player. 

Mitchell displays similarities to Derrick Jones Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks as a left-handed, highly versatile defender who can jump out of the gym. He’s not the reliable corner shooter that Jones Jr. is, but with the right coaching, there is no reason he cannot eventually stretch his shooting out behind the arc.