Age

24.5

Height

6'7''

Weight

225

Workload

MIN%

81

USG%

24

TS%

60

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

16.8

REB

9.7

AST

5.8

STL

1.8

BLK

1.1

TOV

3.6

Efficiency

RIM FG%

68

MID FG%

46

3PT FG%

33

FT%

62

Jump to full report

Report by: Matt

Justyn Mutts

Forward Virginia Tech

Skilled utility PF to play in any scheme

Age

24.5

Height

6'7''

Weight

225

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

16.8

REB

9.7

AST

5.8

STL

1.8

BLK

1.1

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Justyn Mutts, prospect in the 2023 NBA draft. First, hear him in his own words:

The short scouting report pitch for Mutts is a connector / finisher hybrid who can hold his own on defense. A scheme-solving PF who processes the floor with the best of them.

But the narrative of how he’s gotten here is just as interesting. A fifth-year player who sat out a year due to transfer, Mutts was one of the oldest players in college basketball as turned 24 in January. But if you’re going to use all your eligibility, there better be something to show for it. Mutts perhaps has as much to show for his development within the NCAA as any upperclassman, encouraging that he will adapt to whatever new challenge at the next level.

Starting his career at High Point in the Big South Conference, Mutts was more of an energy wing. He won by slashing to the basket with his motor, length and handle, getting from point A to B in an instant. He sat out a year to then transfer to Delaware in the CAA, then learning how to play the high/low game, more of a post-up flex player they trusted to give over 20% usage.

The flashes of passing vision were there, and obvious:

The execution was improving, as slowing the game down was one of the areas for improvement before. He added almost a full extra steal per 100 possessions while fouling once less.

His time at Virginia Tech, however, is when it all started to click.

First, the passing.

Mutts is a good connective passer first for Virginia Tech, making sure the action gets set up and the shooters their touches. However, he also has a chaotic creativity that few do, adapting as the actions break down. In particular he is adept at finding cutters in rhythm. Mutts is always in sync with what his teammates are trying to do and gets them the ball where they can use it.

His assists per 100 ballooned all the way to 7.7 this past year, at a 1.6x ratio to his turnovers. Most notably, he figured out how to use his dribble to create angles, with his ability to get to the rim quickly meaning bigs have to help last second as Justyn is dumping the ball off to his teammate.

The true swing skill on offense is his distance shooting, where results have been mixed. He has never taken more than 50 threes in a season, but is an adequate 30% from distance. His range seems to be well within midrange, though, going 137-333 for a respectable 41% over his NCAA career. His free throw percentage is low/mid-60s, not great but not broken. A corner three is not out of the question, but will need to catch up from lack of reps so far in his basketball career.

Being able to hit in midrange is enough to keep his passing options open, however, and I don’t see anything unworkable in the mechanics. His best weapon is his over the shoulder mini-hook, particularly after spinning into opponents to create space and give himself a rhythm. When he’s decisive getting into it, the routine maximizes his passing threat, rim threat and ambidexterity. He spent a lot of time finding the gaps in the opponent’s defense at Virginia Tech, cutting into an open dunker spot or flashing to mid-post after screens.

The defensive end is where Mutts is the most of a tweener. He could be seen used all over as Virginia Tech’s best, biggest athlete, for example guarding Paolo Banchero one minute and AJ Griffin the next in their ACC title win. The Hokies used him mainly on post ups to start the 2022-23 season but eventually placed more on wings.

Mutts moves well for his size and strength, likely close to an average NBA athlete if still far from the best of the best. But he’ll be able to hang for stretches at a time, and even switch briefly if needed.

He has learned how to be ultra-opportunistic, reading the floor faster than his younger opponents. The activity is generally good, but with advances to his fitness could find even more ways to weaponize his +7 wingspan.

In fact, there were only four other high major players who got steals and blocks as frequently as Mutts while fouling 3x or less per 40 minutes as he did. His feet could be a little quicker on isos, his leaping could be better off of two feet, and he will likely be too short to handle true bigs, but Mutts has shown enough to believe he’ll consistently hang in. His backpedal is good, and, when combined with an elite wingspan (7’3”) and hand placement give him plenty of opportunities to stay in a play.

It was difficult to choose between big or forward for Mutts’ position. He was certainly a big for Virginia Tech, and his ability to set heavy screens while quickly catching the ball into a decision-making position is extremely valuable for getting onto the floor as a rookie. I am not confident in him as a catch and shoot threat, and therefore more screens/less shooting for me means he will be best suited as a big. He is an ideal smallball/zone-busting big, with his ability to thrive as a forward on offense contingent on finding a system to maximize his passing/slashing/screen-setting combo.

In that case, offensive rebounding might be the swing skill instead of shooting. Mutts has a strong preference for leaping off of one foot versus two, usually not a major issue but, if he can improve off two, will increase his odds of winning the dirty battles down low that would give him even more scheme flexibility. If he can survive against 6’10” post bigs that will allow an NBA team lineup flexibility, then letting Mutts burn a slower-footed opponent on offense.

In all, I’m excited to see how Justyn fits in on an NBA court, as I believe the skills and athleticism are enough to earn some experimentation from perhaps a young team trying to glue together their play finisher bets. Or a playoff team looking to scheme-proof their bench. Justyn has all the traits of what you need in a big wing/small big connector piece with bankable skills and a nose for knowing how plays will develop.

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