Texas freshman Dillon Mitchell will enter the 2023 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Wednesday.
Mitchell, the No. 31 prospect in ESPN’s most recent mock draft, averaged 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game at Texas, helping the Longhorns reach the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, where they lost to Miami.
Mitchell entered the season as a projected top-10 pick but saw his stock drop as his playing time dwindled to little offensive production. He shot 64% from the field but had the lowest usage rate of any college player drafted in the last 30 years, attempting just 3.1 shots per game against a crowded, veteran frontcourt.
Despite his lackluster production, Mitchell reminded NBA scouts why he was so highly regarded on several occasions with his unique combination of mobility, explosiveness, defensive instincts and finishing ability, areas that give him significant potential to continue improving at just 19 years old. ..
Mitchell will retain his NCAA eligibility for the time being to protect himself from injury but is not expected to return to the college level. NBA teams will want to study him more closely during the pre-draft process to see if he can uncover what made him the No. 4 prospect in ESPN’s recruiting rankings before enrolling at Texas.
The NBA draft combine will be held May 15-21 in Chicago, and the draft will take place June 22 in Brooklyn.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.