St. John’s was about to start a film session on Tuesday, when Rick Pitino got everyone’s attention in the room.
He had an announcement to make.
The Hall of Fame coach informed his players that Dillon Mitchell was joining Zuby Ejiofor and Sadiku Ibine Ayo as a team captain.
Mitchell had no idea it was coming.
“Not at all,” Mitchell, a transfer forward from Cincinnati, recalled on Wednesday with a laugh. “It felt good, just knowing I’m doing the right thing as far as putting this team first, trying to help get us better and using my experience and my leadership to get the team on the same page with everything.”
Mitchell, who started his career at Texas, has never been a captain before.
The versatile 6-foot-8 senior was thrilled to receive the honor. It spoke volumes about the impact he has made in a short period of time both on and off the court, after just three games as a Johnnie.
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Ejiofor and Ibine Ayo are returning captains in their third year at the school, players that Pitino holds in high regard because of their work ethic, unselfishness and team-first approach. Mitchell has exhibited similar leadership qualities, clearly standing out among the newcomers.
“I just think the players really look up to him, that’s important, and I also think he believes in all of the things that comprise the elements of being a good captain,” Pitino said. “All three of those guys are selfless. The name on the front is more important than the name on the back. It’s all about winning. It’s not about their stats. [Mitchell] exudes that along with Zuby and [Ibine Ayo]”
A former five-star, top 25 high school prospect out of Montverde Academy in Florida, Mitchell has quickly emerged as a key glue piece for the 14th-ranked Johnnies.
Pitino has called him the Red Storm’s best defender, and has used him as a playmaking forward. He brought him off the bench in Saturday’s win over William & Mary — Mitchell responded by tallying eight points, four rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists in 16 minutes — and likes him in that role.
“In the end, if we have a successful season, he’s going to be the sixth man of the year, he’s going to get that award, because he is such a spark off the bench, he’s such a spark in practice, he’s shown great leadership in practice,” Pitino said. “The second team, the white team, 50 percent of the time beat the red team because of him and his leadership, and I wanted him in that role.
“I think outside of Zuby, he’s one of the most valuable players on the team, and we don’t need him in foul trouble. At the end of the game, we need his defense, we need his ballhandling ability. He’s a point forward. He’s somebody that puts a lot of pressure on the other team.”
Mitchell has repeatedly spoken glowingly about St. John’s and the opportunity to play for Pitino, saying he wishes he landed in Queens sooner. Now he can say he’s a captain for the first time as he hopes to finish his college career with a big final season.
“It’s cool, I’m very appreciative of it,” Mitchell said. “I feel like I am a pretty good leader, just trying to be vocal, get the guys going, help some of the younger guys out. It’s my fourth year now in college, so even if the system is different, I understand what the coaches are looking for on the defensive side, the offensive side.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
