Road Warrior: Texas' Dillon Mitchell Flashes NBA Ability Against Oklahoma

Mitchell's very first possession on the defensive end was a very good look at what he can do – as soon as Oklahoma forward Jalon Moore got the ball on the right block, Mitchell swarmed him. 

Moore faked left, Mitchell shuffled around to prevent a kiss off the glass. He faked right, Mitchell shuffled to keep himself between Moore and the bucket, hands up vertically to prevent a foul call.

Moore passed out of the opportunity, knowing he'd be unable to get off a clean look against the Texas wing's defense. At 6-foot-9 (though just a 6-foot-10 wingspan), Dillon Mitchell has the size to create problems for opposing offensive players, specifically ones that try to play above the rim or shoot over him. 

He's also got surprisingly quick hands – he knocked a couple of balls loose in the game, and though was never officially awarded a steal, was still making players think twice about putting it on the deck against him.

The other thing to like about the defense were his two blocked shots, one of which came against Oklahoma guard Javian McCollum, whose shot Mitchell blocked into the stands as he drove the lane. Mitchell, guarding a post player, came off his man on the help defense to make the play on the ball. 

Defensively, he's got good timing and shot-blocking IQ. He's not a typical "big man" – he's more of a combo forward capable of defending guards as well, but he does know how to block a shot in the most entertaining, crowd-igniting way possible.

Boarding School

Unmentioned thus far is Mitchell's impressive night on the glass – 13 boards, 12 of which were on the defensive end of the court. 

His physical attributes are obviously a big reason for his ability to get after it, but one thing that has drastically changed from last year to this year is his intentionality when attacking the glass. 

Last season, he averaged about four rebounds per game, which, if you're the starting forward on a high-major Division-1 basketball team, isn't all that great. 

Now, he's close to averaging a double-double at 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per, essentially doubling his stats from last year while maintaining a very high 59.9% FG.

Given most of his offense consists of a healthy diet of dunks, lobs and put-backs, this makes sense. But the fact that he is averaging double-digit points and nearly double-digit rebounds indicates a change in mentality from last year to this, an uptick in on-court aggression. 

He now is able to funnel all of the motor and energy he's always possessed into positive basketball outcomes. And it's getting scouts' attention. 

An Offensive Display

Now, Mitchell is probably not ever going to be a guy that scores 20 points a game in the NBA, as his shooting just isn't there, and might never be. His mechanics are awkward, and he doesn't really look comfortable when shooting the ball – almost like it's forced. 

Where Mitchell shines on offense is his awareness as a cutter, making intelligent moves to find himself in a position to score. 

Last night, he had a couple of brilliant off-ball moves that got him wide open for slams. He finished the Oklahoma matchup with eight points on 3-4 FG and 2-2 FT. 

In one case, Oklahoma decided to run a post double against Dylan Disu, to which Mitchell reacted perfectly. Seeing this as it developed, he cut from the top of the key to the block on the weak side of the floor, where Disu found him easily for a jam. 

This is how he will have to find his points at the next level. Dunks, alleys, put-backs, and cuts. 

Overall

Mitchell has made enough improvement in my eyes to be a borderline first-round talent in a draft year that is frankly not quite as strong or deep as some of the recent classes.

This isn't a knock on Mitchell as a player as much as it is a statement on the game of basketball and the direction in which it's moving. Guys that can't shoot are finding their NBA opportunities slowly fading away as the NBA prioritizes shooting and distribution, at neither of which he is very skilled (1.7 assists to 1.6 turnovers per).

Still, the defense, rebounding, athleticism and motor will get this Longhorn prospect onto an NBA roster. What he does with that opportunity is up to him.