Texas basketball projected 2023-2024 starting lineup
Texas basketball starting power forward: Dillon Mitchell
Another important player returning to Texas for the 2023-24 season that initially declared early for the 2023 NBA Draft is the former elite five-star recruit and rising sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell. The lengthy and athletic 6-foot-8 and 205-pound forward will be looking to improve his game in his second season playing under Terry with the Longhorns.
Mitchell must expand his offensive game to become a more pronounced scoring threat beyond six or eight feet from the basket. He’s got too natural of a shooting stroke and is too good of a ball-handling forward to not take more shots from the mid-range and beyond the arc this season.
Dillon Mitchell shot chart for his true freshman campaign. pic.twitter.com/euA6rG2Lzh
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) June 1, 2023
Mitchell’s facilitating ability and court vision with the ball in his hands in the paint could also be better utilized to run the offense from the inside out this season. He showed at Montverde Academy and in the AAU circuit that he is an effective secondary facilitator and distributor with the ball in his hands closer to the basket.
True Statement Sunday: Ranking 2022 Dillon Mitchell |@Dillonmit_23| in the 100-250 range is just plain bad.
— Endless Motor Sports (@endless_motor) April 13, 2021
One of the most versatile two-way prospects in America that impacts the game FAR beyond a box score.
Disruptive defender, great vision/playmaking, great athlete. pic.twitter.com/n3US9MLFUm
On the defensive end, Mitchell was a force to be reckoned with during his true freshman campaign. According to Sports Reference, Mitchell was the only freshman forward in the Big 12 last season to post at least a 3.0 defensive box plus/minus.
Mitchell’s length, instincts, timing, and lateral agility make him one of the best on-ball defending forwards in the Big 12. He’s a matchup nightmare on that end of the floor.
This season will be a huge opportunity for Mitchell to improve his offensive game in his second year with the Longhorns. If he can make the necessary strides to improve his game on that end of the floor, his 2024 NBA Draft stock will skyrocket while taking the Longhorns to new heights in the frontcourt rotation.