His name is pronounced Kon-stant-E-nos, but his teammates call him Dinos for short.
Us bloggers, however, call him "The Greek Deac." When asked about the new nickname, he grinned, "Not bad. I like it."
While under-regarded on the recruiting trail, Wake fans will get to know Mitoglou well this season. The Thessaloniki, Greece native played for Greek club Aris BC, but decided to attend college before signing a professional contract. He chose Wake Forest over Temple and Old Dominion, "I love the campus. The school is very good academically. And it plays ACC basketball. The ability to combine them was attractive."
Also, Mitoglou started for Greece's U18 team in the European Championships, averaging 8.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting 72 percent from the foul line.
Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons have high hopes for Dinos. The team praises the 6-10 freshman for his limitless shooting range and rapid-fire release.
Coach Manning stated, "He is a great shooter for someone at his size, and frankly, his age."
When discussing his biggest strengths, Mitoglou added, "I like shooting the ball. I like playing outside. But I need to improve my inside game. That’s why I came here."
The rangy big man has strong rebounding instincts and a good understanding of how to get open on the floor. Like most players from Europe, he is fundamentally sound, but needs to gain weight and become more physical.
When asked about the biggest difference between the basketball quality in Greece and the ACC, he responded, "Here, the athleticism. People are strong, jump higher and are not afraid of contact. In Greece, the game depends on techniques and a lot of [half-court set] plays."
While "The Greek Deac" will need some time to adjust to Manning's up-and-down, fast break style, he will see substantial minutes as a stretch four. I predict that by the end of the year, he starts alongside Devin Thomas.
Mitoglou has the size and skills to be a key contributor for the Demon Deacons this season and make a name for himself. Will he live up to and represent "The Greek Deac" nickname going forward?
He laughed, "I hope so."