Dillon Mitchell returned to Texas for a number of reasons, primarily to win a national title
Texas forward Dillon Mitchell was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking and possessed a number of traits that suggested his time in Austin would be one year in length. But he’s back for the 2023-24 season under head coach Rodney Terry. While his aspirations are to prove to NBA franchises that he’s worthy of a lottery pick in 2024, there’s one aspect that he said inspired him to return to the Forty Acres.
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“They knew I could do more,” Mitchell said Wednesday. “It wasn’t more about them not knowing what I could do, it was about me showing it. I think that’s one of the reasons why I came back. Obviously, I want to win a national championship and I’m going to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Mitchell went through the NBA draft process during the late spring and early summer and received valuable data from the Association about what he needed to improve. Many of the questions surrounding the 6-foot-8 product of Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy had to do with his offensive acumen.
Despite starting all 38 games for the Longhorns last season, Mitchell rarely was a factor on the offensive end. He averaged 4.3 points per game in just over 17 minutes per contest, and was likely the fourth or fifth scoring option in any lineup he was a part of with players like Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, Tyrese Hunter, Timmy Allen, and Dylan Disu around him.
Just because his offensive skill set wasn’t utilized doesn’t mean Mitchell is starting from scratch in that department. The former five-star surprised scouts with his shooting performance from distance at the NBA combine.
Plus, Mitchell has a blossoming mid-range game Texas tried to showcase early in contests last year. Of course, the springy sophomore can play above the rim better than most in the conference, if not the country.
Still, Mitchell had a lot to work on and knew that improving at Texas while in search of a national title with Terry was right path for him to take.
“I just learned a lot from them and realized that maybe I wasn’t prepared yet,” Mitchell said. “I’m still young, I’m only 19 years old. I think it was an easy decision to come back. I think it was more of a smart decision as far as being prepared. I knew that if I came back and continued to develop my game and talk with RT about what do I need to do to help increase my stock for whenever is the right time, I just think it was an easy decision to come back as far as just my growth.”
Offense is the key area, with Mitchell wanting to show how he can not only score, but facilitate for others like Hunter, Max Abmas and Ithiel Horton in transition following rebounds. That won’t be too foreign to him, as Mitchell said he had larger role in the offense at Montverde where he was able to do some of those things with his blue-chip teammates.
The Texas coaches, now without options like Carr, Rice, and Allen, will look to give Mitchell more opportunities with ball in hand. That trust has inspired a confidence in Mitchell that might not have always been in the sophomore’s mind during his freshman season.
On defense, Mitchell remains motivated as ever and has lofty aspirations on that end of the floor.
“I think one of the biggest things I want to show is the defense,” Mitchell said. “I want to be known as far as the best defenders in the country.”
Plus, there’s off the court rapport with Mitchell and Terry. Mitchell said he relishes being able to connect with Terry of the court. Terry being named permanent head coach was mentioned as part of why Mitchell decided to return.
All those factors have him back on the Forty Acres for at least one more season. And, how last year’s NCAA Tournament run ended just short of the Final Four still lingers in Mitchell’s head. The feeling he had when he realized he would no longer be able to play with guys like Carr, Allen, and Rice is a motivator for him to help the 2023-24 Longhorns return to, and surpass, the point they reached last year.
“It just builds a lot of — not anger — that want,” Mitchell said. “We want it because we know we can do it. We were right there. Now it’s just about going and getting it.”
