Just one day after Boston College men’s basketball finalized a key addition to the program with the announcement of Earl Grant as BC’s new head coach, the Eagles lost an important piece of their lineup on Tuesday, as forward Steffon Mitchell declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.
WZBC originally tweeted the news, which Mitchell confirmed by retweeting it.
The 6-foot-8 senior was a defensive stalwart and a tenacious force on the boards for the Eagles during his four years on the Heights. Across his 108-game career at BC, he averaged 6.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and one block per game.
His junior year was particularly prolific, as he averaged 8.7 rebounds per game, an average of 3.1 coming from the offensive end, and over two steals per contest. His performances earned him a spot on the ACC All-Defensive Team and an All-ACC Honorable Mention. No other BC player had previously been named to the All-Defensive squad.
His memorable performance against Virginia Tech last year emblemized the versatile abilities he could bring to the floor at his best. Mitchell notched an incredible statline of 21 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal in a 77-73 win for BC.
While Mitchell’s lack of shooting range affects his production on the offensive end, he more than makes up for it with nonstop energy and aggression. His offensive game improved as an upperclassman, and he set career highs in shooting percentage and points per game this season, but was limited to just 16 appearances due to injury.
Although Mitchell was a senior this season, he had the option of returning for a fifth year due to the rule change instituted by the NCAA this year that gave all NCAA athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mitchell’s departure is the latest in a string of exits from this year’s team. Guard Rich Kelly entered his name in the transfer portal at the end of February, and a week later, Wynston Tabbs also announced his intention to test the waters of the transfer portal.
Featured Image by Ikram Ali / Heights Editor
