SUMMARY
There was a sense of anticipation about how Ajay Mitchell would perform in the NBA Combine last month, and you could say the Belgian guard has truly met the expectations after his show in Chicago. To be fair, College Basketball fans and analyst alike already knew he could score in bunches and effectively run an offense through ball screens, but at the Combine, Mitchell has standout as a reliable primary initiator and as a valuable and willing defender.
This experience significantly raises Mitchell’s stock and defies the argument he has barely been tested against high major opposition during his 91-game college career. Ajay didn’t look out of place at all in the couple of games he played for Team HERSCU in the Combine. On the contrary, he was a dynamic and unselfish presence who put all on the floor and made his teammates better with each possession. Of course, and besides this promise, there are still legitimate questions about the Belgian combo prospects on both sides of the floor.
2️⃣ weeks out from draft day and Ajay is climbing up the boards ?
#GoGauchos | @ajaymitchell09 pic.twitter.com/7F4itUSSLH— UC Santa Barbara Basketball (@UCSBbasketball) June 12, 2024
The obvious one is how Mitchell will fare offensively against more athletic, tougher, and bigger opponents especially regarding his self-creation chops. Is his shooting upgrade here to stay? What about his touch in the lane and mid-range menace? As we have pointed out, Ajay’s step forward from the 3pt-point line has been nothing short of impressive (up to almost 40% this season from 26.7% on his sophomore year) especially when you consider he has slightly raised his volume. Catch-and-shoot situations is likely to become Mitchell’s bread and butter early on, but he has too much bounce to simply perform as a three-and-D guard. NBA spacing should play in his favour.
On his own end there is no doubt teams are going to target Mitchell in pick-and-rolls straight away, especially since he is not a prime athlete. Naturally, you can’t expect him to dictate offense in the NBA as of today. All the same you can’t expect him to go over the screen every time or make every second and third effort out of the gates. Not many rookies are ready for that challenge. But you would do well to trust his size, quick feet and IQ. There are tools in his repertoire for rising to the challenge and turn into a more than adequate on-ball and help defender.
Lastly, we need to think of Mitchell’s adaptability in terms of role and playing time. He used to be the go-to-guy and main creator at UC Santa Barbara, but now he’ll come off the bench surrounded by seasoned pros and will have to do all the little things to stay on the floor. Usage, impact, and productivity are surely bound to go down, and possibly a G League assignment will be on the cards if only to adjust to the speed and the physicality of the game. But for starters, and as an invitation to unlock Ajay’s potential, they could pair him with an athletic big man to exploit his vision and the knack for the jump pass.
One of the greatest Gauchos of all time. Thank you Ajay for a memorable career! ⁰⁰#GoGauchos | @ajaymitchell09 pic.twitter.com/9GPKh4T3YF
— UC Santa Barbara Basketball (@UCSBbasketball) May 30, 2024
The 2024 Draft class is widely considered the weakest in a while because the lack of star-power and the role-player expectations placed on most lottery picks. It’s truth this class lacks the names to turn your head around in my view, but there are plenty of building pieces to solidify an NBA project. In addition, since the Draft ceremony will take place in two separated nights, the 2nd Round is going to be more crucial than ever, with front offices going over workouts, reports, and interviews unlimited times. They will be aiming for a star in the making, or at the least a not so under the radar gem such as Ajay Mitchell. A talented lead-guard who can help any roster with his skill, high-IQ and hard worksince day one. Who knows … Perhaps the Belgian dancer gets his name called in the 1st Round after all.
Get your popcorn ready for this week. Rumors, dealings and teams on the clock. It’s going to be fun.
