Dillon Mitchell arrived at St. John’s with the reputation as a high-flying athlete and terrific defender.
Nobody knew at the time he could also play point forward.
With the Johnnies lacking a true difference-maker at point guard, Coach Rick Pitino used Mitchell in that role. The move not only helped St. John’s win a second straight Big East regular-season and postseason title and advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 27 years, it made Mitchell more attractive at the next level.
He was a one-man fast break, turning rebounds into transition opportunities. He took ballhandling pressure off guards and frequently converted live-ball turnovers into jaw-dropping dunks.
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