Ajay Mitchell

Mitchell played three seasons for UC Santa Barbara and was a regular starter throughout his campaign, being ever-present in the starting unit in both his sophomore and junior years. Mitchell averaged double-digit points in each season, but took his game to another level as a junior in 2023-24, averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 29 starts. Mitchell was an efficient scorer, making at least 50% of his field goals in each of his three seasons. He was named to the All-Big West First Team in the last two seasons and was second in the Big West in points per game last season. Mitchell is the son of a former professional basketball player, and that's noticeable in the way he approaches the game, particularly his awareness when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. Mitchell has a solid frame at 6-foot-3 and has continued to add strength to his body, so he has the perfect size to defend guards at the next level. His lateral quickness isn't excellent, something he compensates for with above-average awareness and defensive instincts. He must work on his shooting, as he has struggled with his mechanics and release time. But even if his shooting doesn't improve drastically, he has the size and speed to be an effective cutter who can finish near the rim. Mitchell has the potential to be a solid mid-range scorer. Mitchell has to work on both ends of the court if he wants to have a shot at playing in an NBA rotation for years to come. But, the potential to be a solid contributor is there, even if it ends up being in an off-the-ball role. He does show promise on offense and has excellent defensive instincts, but he must work on his shooting form. Considering he's 22 years old and his overall feel for the game and upside are undeniable, it wouldn't be shocking if he's selected in the latter stages of the first round or the early stages of the second. Mitchell has enormous potential despite having things to iron out in his game.