The Boston Celtics have kept a close eye on Dillon Mitchell for years. After selecting Chris Cenac Jr. on Tuesday, on Day 2 of this year's NBA Draft, they pondered whether they'd have to move up the board to add the St. John's standout. Instead, Mike Zarren, the organization's vice president of basketball operations and team counsel, shared that it became apparent that it wasn't necessary. Sure enough, they were able to stand pat and land this prospect, whom they coveted.
"We were reasonably focused on Dillon, and it was exciting that he was there for us at 40," said Zarren after the second round of the draft concluded.
Even by NCAA and now, NBA standards, the franchise's newest roster member is an elite athlete. He was a McDonald's All-American in high school while starring at basketball power Montverde Academy. Last season, his lone year with the Red Storm, he was a team captain.
That's a combination of athleticism, pedigree, and leadership that's worth betting on, especially with the No. 10 pick on Day 2 of the draft.
WELCOME TO BOSTON @Dillonmit_23 ☘️ pic.twitter.com/2r9NPBHPBm
— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) June 25, 2026
Mike Zarren shares what drew the Celtics to Dillon Mitchell
The six-foot-eight wing spent his first two collegiate campaigns with the Texas Longhorns. That's where the franchise's vice president of basketball operations and team counsel first saw him play.
"We've been watching Dillon for a long time. I first saw him -- there was a game, Gonzaga was at Texas, and I went down to that game to scout him and some other people in that game, and also to meet a young grad assistant who was working for Texas at that time, named Parker Sexton, who's now on our scouting staff," recalled Zarren. "Instantly, Dillon's leaping ability almost quite literally jumped off the court, and he had a great game. He's really raw back then, but his athleticism stood out."
After his time in Texas, Mitchell spent a season with the Cincinnati Bearcats before finishing his NCAA career with St. John's. Under Rick Pitino, his game blossomed in a role he bought into that helped him excel.
At the heart of that was a player showcasing how special he can be on defense. He earned a spot on the 2025-26 Big East All-Defensive Team selection and averaged 1.3 steals last season.
"He became one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball," stated Zarren, who noted Mitchell's length -- he has a 6-foot-10.5 inch wingspan -- mobility, and defensive instincts.
Dillon Mitchell's offensive outlook
The 22-year-old from Tampa, Florida, isn't strictly a one-way player. During his year in Queens, New York, he evolved as a passer. He dished out 3.0 assists per tilt. That's pretty good for someone who didn't have a high usage rate.
The reason the ball wasn't in his hands a ton is that he isn't much of a threat as a scorer or a shooter. He only took 15 threes last season. His lone make was in St. John's NCAA Tournament loss to the Duke Blue Devils. He averaged just 6.4 field goal attempts.
"He can be successful even when he's not shooting the ball, but he'll get better at his shot. We don't have any doubt about that," said Zarren on Wednesday night.
Time will tell how much growth there is on that front. However, it helps that he's going to an elite infrastructure, one that has helped players refine their form. An example comparable to what the Celtics would love to see happen with Mitchell is Jordan Walsh's development as a shooter.
The former Arkansas Razorback entered the Association as a defensive standout, but was reluctant to let shots fly. Passing up opportunities was not uncommon. That has changed in the professional ranks. Walsh knocked down 38.4 percent of the 1.8 threes he hoisted last season. Don't let the volume fool you: that came while averaging 17.8 minutes of floor time. What's more important is that if the moment called for him to rise and fire, he did so.
If Boston's 2026 second-round selection follows this same trajectory, the organization hit a home run with this pick. It will turn Zarren's declaration that Mitchell has got "a hell of a future ahead" into a prophecy.
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