Dillon Mitchell was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft out of St. John's.
Speaking with reporters, including Bobby Manning of CLNS Celtics, Boston Celtics rookie Dillon Mitchell said he never considered going back to college at St. John's this summer, saying he wanted to be in Boston and start his professional journey.
It was a complex summer for players like Mitchell, so let's take it from the top.
The Dillon Mitchell file
Mitchell was drafted by the Celtics in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft out of St. John's. He spent two years at Texas, one year at Cincinnati and one year at St. John's, taking full advantage of the NCAA's transfer rules and NIL opportunities. Long and athletic, he averaged 8.0 ppg for his college career while also pulling down 6.3 rebounds.
He helped St. John's win the Big East regular season and tournament titles in 2025-26, getting the Red Storm back to the NCAA Tournament under Rick Pitino.
So, what about going back to college?
As you've undoubtedly heard by now, the NCAA has changed its eligibility rules to what it calls the "age-based eligibility model."
Beginning now, all student-athletes have five years to play five seasons. There are no more redshirts. If a player is healthy enough to play five full seasons, they can, but if they get hurt and have to miss a season, they'll still have four seasons available to them as they always have.
St. John's Red Storm forward Dillon Mitchell (1) dribbles the ball during a practice session ahead of the east regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesThese rules apply to current college student-athletes too, meaning that players who were freshmen-juniors last year all just got an extra year of eligibility. The issue is that players who were seniors last year, who "only" played four seasons, were not given that extra year.
The seniors that meet those conditions are filing preliminary injunctions all over the country in order to be included back into the college mix.
Mitchell met those conditions. He played just four years in four seasons, and could have fought for a fifth. He has chosen not to.
So, can he help the Celtics?
It remains to be seen. He's long and athletic and can currently help in the rebounding and defense department, but he only took 57 three-pointers in four years of college, and he only shot 19 percent on them. He also was only a 48.8 percent free-throw shooter.
His offensive game needs development and that might be best suited to happen in the G-League with the Maine Celtics. Mitchell should get a look in preseason though, which begins Oct. 8.
He showed flashes during the Las Vegas Summer League and reports are that he's worked very hard following the conclusion of that.
