Former 5-star back in the transfer portal searching for 3rd team in 4 years

When Dillon Mitchell committed to Chris Beard at Texas as a 2022 five-star he likely expected it to be a one-year stop before heading to the NBA draft. Plenty of his contemporaries from that class are already multiple seasons into their professional careers, but after struggling to develop his offensive game and capitalize on his impressive athletic traits, Mitchell is now looking for his third team to use his final year of collegiate eligibility. 

Following two seasons at Texas, Mitchell transferred to Cincinnati last offseason where he averaged just under 10 points a game while shooting over 60 percent with 6.9 rebounds. He found a niche as a disruptive role player staying in the Big 12 as Texas made its move to the SEC, and now he has one last chance to make an appeal to NBA evaluators. 

Dillon Mitchell back in the transfer portal after one season at Cincinnati

Mitchell's move to Cincinnati was likely designed for the former five-star forward to take a larger role in the offense, but that didn’t happen under head coach Wes Miller. Instead, Mitchell’s numbers plateaued and he had the worst free-throw shooting season of his career. With high-major and even NBA athleticism dripping off his 6-foot-8 frame, Mitchell is at a career crossroads. 

Power Conference teams and even contenders will always have a need for players like Mitchell who can be impactful defenders and effective rebounders. Mitchell even has the length to play small-ball center from time to time if a coach wants his team to be switchable 1-5. However, Mitchell will never be a No. 1 or even No. 2 offensive option for a Power Conference team. 

Therefore, Mitchell is forced to decide between taking another step down to a lower-level P4 program or even a mid-major where he can be the star and look to earn a spot in the NBA, or he can accept his fate as a role player and look to compete for a championship. 

There is also a third option, one that Bearcats fans would prefer that Mitchell exercise. He has not closed the door on a return to Cincinnati after endearing himself to the fanbase with his high-energy play style. Even Longhorns fans would like Mitchell to return to Austin.

Mitchell has not lived up to the lofty expectations he carried into college. And while dreams of him developing into a dominant force have passed, he still has one last season of eligibility to find the right program that can get the most out of his ability.