Dillon Mitchell showcased what St. John's can do for your NBA Draft stock
St. John's Dillon Mitchell dribbles the ball up court against Georgetown in the second half of a Big East men’s basketball game at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2026. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Maybe Dillon Mitchell is about to become the latest example of what the St. John’s basketball program and coach Rick Pitino can do for the high-ceiling player who hasn’t reached his potential.
When Mitchell joined the Red Storm as a transfer from Cincinnati before last season, he had all kinds of abilities. He was an exceptional athlete, a tenacious defender and a voracious rebounder, and he became even more than that. The NBA Draft will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Barclays Center, and after one season playing for Pitino, Mitchell now looks like a draft pick.
The 6-8 forward demonstrated that he had far more skills as he helped shape one of St. John’s best seasons in nearly three decades.
When the team needed more ballhandlers, he proved he could be one. When it needed better court vision, he had it. When he proved to be a leader, Pitino anointed him a tri-captain. He not only is a better player in every way, he’s a winner — and that goes a long way.
Without the season with St. John’s, Mitchell might be viewed as a gamble. Today he looks like a player who might go in the front half of the second round.
Teammates Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins also could be drafted. The better mock drafts place the 6-8 Ejiofor — the 2025-26 Big East Player of the Year — late in the first round or early in the second. The 6-7 Hopkins is envisioned by most as a potential second-round pick.
Mitchell averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.1 minutes.
“It’s the position Coach P put me in,” Mitchell said in a Zoom interview Sunday. “We won a lot of games, which always helps [because] being on a losing team, it’s hard to be seen [and] get your name really out there. You play in March Madness . . . against Duke in the Sweet 16, everybody’s watching those games.
“The year I had at St. John’s has really helped getting my name back out there and getting teams looking at me as being able to have a chance to play at the next level.”
Mitchell’s move to the starting lineup after a 9-5 start sent St. John’s on a 21-2 run. A McDonald’s All-American out of high school whose status had faded, Mitchell resurfaced as a catalyst for the Red Storm’s return to the elite after they scuffled early. They finished at 30-7 and reached the NCAA Turnament Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
Pitino said, “Because we didn’t have a legit point guard early, Dillon became a point forward and he benefited going forward by showing people that he is dangerous in the open court with the ball in his hands.”
Mitchell said Pitino has gotten calls on him and offered to make calls to NBA executives on his behalf. Asked about those sort of calls, Pitino said, “He has high character and a strong work ethic . . . and those are things that matter. But they’ve seen plenty of him and I understand he’s had good workouts.”
Mitchell has worked out for 16 NBA teams, including the Knicks and Nets. The Knicks have selections at 24, 31 and 55 in the draft. Asked about the possibility of being drafted by the NBA champions, he replied, “It would be insane . . . just being able to compete at MSG again.”
Mitchell is going to watch the draft on Tuesday and Wednesday night in Houston with his fiancee, their families, one of his representatives and their dogs.
“Come draft night, there could be a whole bunch of trades or whatever the case may be,” Mitchell said. “It’s just not even trying to look into that thing. Just sit on the couch and whatever happens, just wait [for] a phone call, hopefully, just get excited for that.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
