#3 Davion Mitchell – Guard – Baylor
Many people did not know who Davion Mitchell was until he helped carry Baylor to the National Championship game and ultimately win their first ever championship. Now, he has been one of the highest risers of the draft and seems to be one of the better guard options available in this year’s draft.
After starting his career at Auburn, during the 2017-18 season, Mitchell transferred to Baylor and saw his game blossom. Davion Mitchell transformed himself into one of the best two-way players in the entire country and this past season, he averaged 14.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals and shot 44.7% from three-point range.
All-around, Davion Mitchell is a very solid and intriguing prospect, even though he is 22-years-old and turning 23 in September. He does not have the potential for growth like some of the other younger, high-level prospects in this draft class, but Mitchell’s game is going to translate to the NBA perfectly and could immediately make an impact for whatever team he is on.
Defensively, he may be the best prospect in this year’s draft class because of how pesky and strong he is as an on-ball defender. Impacting the game on both ends of the floor is extremely valuable at the point guard position, which is why Mitchell finds himself as the highest rated Junior in the 2021 draft class.
If he falls to the Memphis Grizzlies at 10th overall, they will really need to consider taking him not only because of the impact he brings on both ends of the court, but because Davion Mitchell fits in perfectly to what Memphis looks for in their rotational guys. Not to mention, he reminds me a lot of Malcolm Brogdon when he came out of Virginia in 2016, eventually going on to win Rookie of the Year.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: 3 trade scenarios we’d like to see during 2021 NBA Draft
Seeing as they have Ja Morant at the point guard position, there is not an immediate need for a guy like Mitchell, but these two guys could really form a strong “one-two punch” in the Grizzlies’ backcourt for many years to come. Davion Mitchell has shown the ability to impact the game in more ways than one, especially without having the ball in his hands, which is why he could play well next to Morant in Memphis.
The Memphis Grizzlies ranked 6th in the league this past season in Defensive Rating and they could continue to focus on getting better defensively with the addition of Davion Mitchell. He ranked 36th in the country this past season in steals per game and due to Mitchell’s physical nature, he was able to guard many different positions. Standing about 6’2”, the Baylor product may be a little undersized to guard NBA wings, but his toughness and quickness will give him a chance to defend anybody at a high-level.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: 3 trade scenarios we’d like to see during 2021 NBA Draft
Being a great decision-maker with the ball, Davion Mitchell is able to make plays for himself off-the-dribble, but also find his open teammates for easy assists. Not to mention, Mitchell has turned himself into a knockdown shooter, as he shot 44.7% from three-point range at Baylor this past year.
Davion Mitchell checks off every single box for any team in this league in terms of a two-way guard and while he may not have the most potential out of the other prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft, he is one of the most complete and most NBA-ready guards available near the top of the draft.
