The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 10th, the final deadline for NCAA players to withdraw is May 27th, and the draft will begin on June 23rd. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Dartmouth F Brandon Mitchell-Day about being a remarkable rebounder and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
You were born/raised in St. Louis: what made you choose Dartmouth? Prior to playing competitive basketball I had never even heard of Dartmouth, but academics were big in my family. When some of the Ivy teams started recruiting me, I started thinking about it as a place that could set me up for after basketball and where I could help make a name for myself and my school. Dartmouth was the best place to do that.
You played in 25 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A big reason I was recruited was my motor. I knew that I had to do something to stick out as a freshman and my aggressiveness helped me get more playing time. I tried to do all the little things: rebounding/defense/being a pest. A lot of coaches believed that I could bring that to the table, and everything I do is high-intensity.
After starting only 2 games as a freshman you started all but 2 games as a sophomore: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? There is definitely a higher expectation when you are a starter because the coaching staff trusts you to set the tone for the entire team. I was inexperienced as a freshman so the coaches did not trust me at 1st, but after getting extra film work and setting the tone at practice, I was able to hit a 180 in terms of playing time.
As a junior you had 23 PTS/20 REB in a win over Brown and became the 1st Ivy player to post a 20-20 game against a D-1 opponent since the turn of the century: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is probably the best all-around game of my college career. As hard to do as it may sound, I was in a flow state so nothing felt forced. I was playing free and the 20 REB is just a testament to how hard I played. I wanted to show people what I could do day in and day out and I take great pride in that because all my hard work showed that day. That game felt easy: I remember getting back to the locker room afterward and when my teammates told me that I had 20 REB I thought they were joking!
Last year you led the conference with 244 REB and were #7 in the nation with 7.19 defensive RPG: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? For me the secret goes back to my motor. You never know when a shot goes up if it will be missed, so you have to get good position or run to a spot. It goes back to doing the little things as a freshman: even if I could not score, getting an offensive REB put me in a better position to score. It is not 1 of the flashiest things but it is 1 of the most important things. I do not have the craziest highlights but all the intangible things I do help a team win: that is my calling card.
Your 3-PT shooting increased during each of the past 4 years: how were you able to keep improving every single year? It was about confidence. I could shoot the 3 in high school but I was more of a slasher with shooters around me who had a higher percentage. Since I knew that I could do it, and as my role on the team expanded, I knew that making threes would make the game easier for me. I work on it all the time and my teammates trust me from behind the arc. I got the correct reps each summer and it is about the hard work I put in.
You were named All-Ivy Honorable Mention last year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means everything. The Ivy League is 1 of the most up-and-coming conferences with great players both in the NBA (like Bez Mbeng) and in college (like TJ Power). People overlook our conference because it is academically-oriented, but I take great pride in that award: it is always nice to see your hard work pay off.
You are listed at 6’8”: what position did you play in college, and what position would you feel most comfortable at in the pros? When I was in high school I started as a PG…and then 1 summer I grew 7”! I already had the guard skills, but as 1 of the tallest guys on my team I had to learn how to play in the post. It will be an advantage at the next level because I have a mix of both guard skills and big man skills, which makes me a versatile threat. I can do so many things because I have been exposed to so many situations.
Any thoughts on the recent news that the NCAA tourney will expand to 76 teams next year? Some people argue that it makes the NCAA tourney easier to get into, but I would argue that it makes it harder to win. By expanding the field they make it that much more valuable if you can win it. I see the positives and negatives, but it will still be fun to watch.
What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean everything. This is something I have dreamed of since 1st picking up a basketball. If I do not get drafted then the work does not stop. I will continue to find opportunities to showcase my talents whether it is in the G League or overseas. I will trust in my work and hope it all works out.
