Dillon Mitchell shares how he has grown at Texas

Texas got a big boost with Dillon Mitchell’s decision to return to The 40 Acres this offseason. That choice will be even more impactful if he develops the way that he’s expecting to heading into next season.

Mitchell talked about his growth since arriving at Texas in a clip shared this week by the Longhorns. He says that he has truly learned how to prepare himself as an individual which will only make him better over the course of his sophomore campaign.

“I think I’ve grown, as a person and a player, a lot, especially in my freshman year. Coming in, being around a veteran group, going through that draft process. Just learning, really, what it takes,” Mitchell said. “Learning how to take care of my body, just maturing. So now I know what it takes to be a pro.

“Being able to come back to Texas and use it? That was the best opportunity for me,” added Mitchell.

Mitchell arrived in Austin as a five-star prospect and a top-five recruit in the 2022 class per On3’s Industry Ranking.

Over the course of his 38 games as a starter for the Longhorns, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. He also shot a team-best 63.6% from the field in as an uber athletic 6’8 forward.

He then declared for the NBA Draft after helping Texas reach the program’s first Elite Eight since 2008. However, after going through the process and determining his final decision, he elected to return to play for Rodney Terry for a second season.

Now, Mitchell is as pumped as anyone to be back for another run with the Longhorns. That’s especially so based on what the program added and what it could mean for their upcoming season.

“I mean we’ve got a really good group this year,” said Mitchell. “I think our team did a great job as far as bringing in the right guys to fit out culture. So I’m looking forward to just having fun, winning games, and lighting Moody up.”

Brock Cunningham reveals major factor in decision to return to Texas

Texas forward Brock Cunningham is returning to the Longhorns for a sixth season in 2023. Many expect the 3-and-D threat to continue on the career numbers he had last year.

The Longhorns vet revealed the main reasons that played into his return for his final season of eligibility.

“My decision for coming back for year six is centered around winning another Big-12 Championship, making another run in March Madness — and getting two degrees doesn’t hurt anyone,” Cunningham said. “I’m getting my master’s later this year.”

The decision to come back also comes with expectations. Cunningham averaged 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 18.3 minutes per game. In this upcoming season, he will likely play a similar, if not larger, role during the 2023-24 season. Cunningham coming back for year six also means he has even greater veteran leadership responsibilities.

“With this year’s team, you’ve got a bunch of really good guys. Guys that love being in Austin and chose Texas for the right reasons,” Cunningham said of this year’s roster. “They came here to win and that’s what we’re focused on right now.”