A second-round selection for the Boston Celtics may never suit up for the franchise in an official NBA contest.
Dillon Mitchell, taken 40th overall in the June draft, is weighing a return to St. John’s for another season of college basketball, according to a report from basketball insider Adam Zagoria.
Zagoria stated on social media that “Dillon Mitchell returning to St. John’s is being considered, per source.”
He added, “I’m told they have one roster spot available and have also been in contact with Keyshawn Hall.”
The 22-year-old forward had appeared set to begin his professional career with Boston after an impressive showing in the Las Vegas Summer League. There, Mitchell averaged 13 points and five rebounds while converting 47.2 percent of his field-goal attempts and 37.5 percent of his three-pointers.
His college path included stops at Texas and Cincinnati before a standout final season with the Red Storm. During that campaign, he posted averages of 8.3 points and seven rebounds.
Mitchell earned All-Big East Third Team recognition along with a spot on the conference’s All-Defensive Team. He emerged as a key contributor for a St. John’s squad that captured back-to-back Big East regular-season and tournament titles.
The potential return stems from a recent legal development involving NCAA eligibility rules. A U.S. District Court judge in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction extending a fifth year of competition to athletes from the high school Class of 2022.
Mitchell, who graduated high school that year and already completed four college seasons, now qualifies for an additional year under the ruling. The NCAA had implemented a broader five-year window for competition after high school graduation, but the injunction specifically opened the door for the 2022 cohort in the upcoming season.
Boston still retains Mitchell’s draft rights regardless of any decision to play elsewhere this year. That arrangement could allow the Celtics to bring him into the organization next summer if he elects to spend one more season in Queens.
Questions had already arisen about whether Mitchell would secure a two-way deal or the final standard roster position with the Celtics. The new eligibility option provides him with considerable leverage in those discussions.
St. John’s, meanwhile, holds an open roster slot and has explored other options, including outreach to Hall, a former Auburn forward. Mitchell’s athleticism, defensive intensity and rebounding ability made him an attractive prospect for NBA teams during the draft process.
He worked out for numerous clubs and saw his stock rise after demonstrating playmaking skills as a point-forward under coach Rick Pitino.
Whether the lure of further college development and potential NIL opportunities outweighs an immediate start in the professional ranks remains Mitchell’s choice alone. Celtics coaches had praised his energy and effort during Summer League action, noting his ability to crash the boards and finish plays around the rim.
For now, the situation leaves Boston’s plans for its second-round investment in a state of uncertainty as the preseason approaches.
