Gifted athlete Dillon Mitchell fits in snugly with Red Storm
Dillon Mitchell (1), St. John's basketball players sign a basketball at a NIL (name image likeness) appearance at an Applebees in Fresh Meadows, Queens Monday night. October 27, 2025. Credit: Ed Quinn
When Dillon Mitchell decided in April to transfer from Cincinnati to St. John’s, there were things that everyone knew he would bring to the Red Storm. The 6-8 forward already had a reputation as an extraordinary athlete, a terrific defender and a relentless rebounder. As it turned out, though, St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino got so much more.
If one watched as No. 5 St. John’s readied for next Monday’s opener against Quinnipiac with exhibition games against Towson and No. 7 Michigan, the givens were there as expected. But with the Red Storm, he often brings the ball up instead of one of the guards, shows a savvy understanding of how to find teammates in a position to score and clearly has a lot more of an offensive game than anyone expected. It’s a game replete with a highlight-reel dunking ability.
This is what happens when a gifted player finds a perfect fit in a program and a playing style. It unlocks all the potential that was there but never came to the surface.
Asked about Mitchell’s game at a team appearance Monday night at Applebee’s in Fresh Meadows, St. John’s co-captain Zuby Ejiofor replied, “I like everything about it.
“Coach P. talks a lot about him being a ‘point forward’ and he’s a really smart player. He knows exactly when to attack, exactly when to distribute to others. He’s comfortable bringing the ball up the floor as well . . . We’re looking forward to him doing that pretty much all season.”
When Mitchell came out of high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy (Florida) as a McDonald’s All-American, it was hard to envision him spending a full four years playing college basketball. But after Mitchell spent two seasons with Texas and one with Cincinnati, Pitino found him and everything clicked.
“There’s no better way I would want to end my college career than being here for St John’s, playing for coach Rick Pitino [and] for these guys,” Mitchell said. “I wish I came here earlier, if you want me to tell the truth. Just the fit, the culture, the environment and obviously the development to get better every day . . . Playing with elite guys every day in practice, it just gets you better.”
Asked recently what he likes about Mitchell, Pitino answered, “I like Dillon Mitchell — period. He’s a selfless, really good basketball player and has the ability to be great.”
Mitchell said the versatile, do-everything player St. John’s fans are seeing today is who he was in high school and who he always has been. But he added, “That’s something I’ve not done throughout my college career yet.”
Things started to change for him when he and Pitino watched film together on his campus visit. Pitino saw the skill set and thought that having a player who does all the things Mitchell is known for and also is 6-8 with ball skills and speed would be a huge advantage.
“They’ve preached from when I first got here [that] when I get a rebound to push it . . . start the fast break and make plays for everybody around me,’’ Mitchell said. “That’s something that I feel like I’ve always been pretty good at, and they love it. I think it’s a great fit.”
Whether it’s effort level or the attention to detail, most players who come to play for Pitino at St. John’s go through an adjustment period. Mitchell was no different.
“[At] the other schools, I felt like I’ve always been that guy who is going to outwork and play harder than everybody,” he said. “When I got here, it’s like I wasn’t even playing hard.”
The Hall of Fame coach saw enough to move Mitchell from what was expected to be a bench role into his starting five. He rewarded that by being the biggest bright spot in the first exhibition with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Against Michigan, he had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Mitchell also has proved to be an excellent presence in the locker room. He has the approach to college basketball that Pitino wants: He is about team success.
Asked if showcasing his ballhandling and improved offense will enhance how NBA teams view him, Mitchell demurred.
“If we want to get to where we got to get to as individuals, as players,” he said, “we have to win as a team [and] we have to have helped the team win.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
