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North Texas' Tony Mitchell (13) was 14th in the country last season with an average of 2.7 blocks per game.

(AP File Photo)

AUBURN HILLS – The Detroit Pistons were understandably thrilled when Tony Mitchell was still available Thursday when it came time to make the 37th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

The Pistons think the 6-foot-8, 235-pound Mitchell might have been the best athlete in the entire draft and considered him a possible lottery pick heading into his sophomore season at North Texas.

But there were also some questions marks. Such as, why did Mitchell's numbers drop off last season after an outstanding freshman campaign and why did he appear to take some games off during his second season in college?

Those concerns were raised during an extensive interview during last month's NBA Draft Combine – "Joe (Dumars) and his staff grilled me in Chicago," Mitchell said Friday – and when the Pistons got the answers they wanted, they didn't hesitate in making him their first pick in the second round.

"It was just about my season," said Mitchell, 21. "Joe asked me why I didn't play hard some possessions. Regardless of if you don't make shots or the team is bad, you have to compete. I was telling him that the season was tough and it was hard for me to get up for some games and Joe was just baffled.

"You have to play hard. Listening to a great player like Joe, you can't do anything but try and do it right. I'm just going to try and take it with me to the NBA."

Going hard every night was one of the many qualities the Pistons liked what they saw from first-round pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Georgia and that's something Dumars told Mitchell they expect from him.

"With Ken, we watched him and we never saw one night where he took it off," Dumars said. "He brought it every night. Tony had games when he didn't bring it every night. We said if we selected him, this past year (at North Texas), that would be the last time that ever happened."

Now, Mitchell has to live up to the faith Dumars has in him.

Mitchell planned on beginning his college career at Missouri but after being declared academically ineligible he instead chose to attend mid-major North Texas of the Sun Belt Conference.

He made a splash in his first college season, becoming one of only two freshmen in Division I to average a double-double – 14.7 points and 10.3 rebounds to go with 3.0 blocks – was a finalist for the Mid-Major Player of the Year award, attracting interest from NBA scouts in the process.

But his numbers dropped to 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks last season, when North Texas posted a 12-20 record under new coach Tony Benford after going 18-14 the previous season.

"I'll just say it was a tough season all together," said Mitchell, who was drafted higher than any player in North Texas history. "With us having injuries, it was tough for us to get up for games. Coaches as well. It was just tough being in that environment, how we were losing games and giving up games.

"It was tough all together."

Losing more games than he wins is something Mitchell could very well experience again next season as the Pistons are in a rebuilding mode after averaging 28 victories the last four seasons and missing the playoffs each year.

But the Pistons have stressed he can't left that impact his play.

"The 'every night' is usually the hard part with the transitioning from a college player to the NBA player," said Pistons assistant general manager George David. "It's not identifying what skill it is you want him to do. It's how often can you do it? Every night? Every other night? Every third night?

"Now, you're talking about the difference between a starter, a backup, a rotation player. From him, we'd like to see him be an athlete consistently. He should be the best talent on the floor at all times. I know we have some guys on our roster who are going to push him hard in terms of being the best athlete."

The Pistons know Mitchell is raw offensively but they like his ability to rebound, block shots and play above the rim. They think his athleticism will allow Mitchell to excel in other areas as well and think he has the ability to guard both power forwards and small forwards.

Mitchell, who will play for the Pistons summer league team in Orlando next month, is excited about joining a young team that includes second-year center Andre Drummond and fourth-year power forward Greg Monroe.

What will Mitchell's role be?

"Just bringing energy, bringing energy off the bench," said Mitchell, who hasn't ruled out competing for a starting job. "Whatever these guys need me to do. I know I'm going to be dunking for sure. But other than that, I'm just ready to play.

"I know this is a young team with Greg, Dre and Brandon (Knight). Everybody is excited. Like Joe said, everybody wants to make the playoffs. That's the goal. That's important. I'm going to try and bring it 100 percent.

"It's going to be exciting."

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