It may be all you can do to keep up with the NBA and NCAA Tournament, with both going down at the same time. But for NBA draft analysts like Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, it is the best time of the year to connect the two audiences.
And for the San Antonio Spurs’ earlier of their two selections in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft set to take place this summer, he also has a prospect in mind for the Spurs’ front office to consider. That would be Santa Barbara point guard Ajay Mitchell, a 6-foot-5, 21-year-old floor general who draws comparisons to Andrew Nembhard.
“Mitchell’s year ended with him scoring over 35 points in two of Santa Barbara’s final 3 games,” writes Wasserman. “A weak strength of schedule, record (7th in the Big West) and his lack of 3-point volume work against him.”
“But there will be believers in his scoring translating based on how effectively he uses change of speed to get to spots and touch shots/adjustments around the paint,” adds the B/R draft expert.
“Plus, despite taking just 2.9 3s in 31.5 minutes as a third-year college guard, he’s making them at a solid rate (39.3%), burying free throws (85.8%) and demonstrating the shot-making versatility to connect off the catch and dribble.”
We’d be happy with such a prospect for the Spurs, given Mitchell has the size and profile to top out as a solid starting point guard. He might not translate at the next level given his prior competition (think Kentucky’s James Young), but a worthwhile gable this late in the draft.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5]