Derek Dixon 2025-26 season player preview

Derek Dixon 2024-2025 review

July 17, 2024; North Augusta, S.C., USA; Team Takeover's Derek Dixon (3) reacts after shooting a free throw during the Team Takeover and WhyNot game at the Nike Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activities Center. Team Takeover won 64-62. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network

Derek Dixon capped off a stellar high school career by winning the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year award for the District of Columbia. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists, leading Gonzaga to the 2025 DC State Athletic Association Class AA state championship.

He showcased his shooting ability, making 80 three-pointers on 38.5 percent from the field.

Dixon finished his high school career ranked as a four-star recruit and is part of North Carolina’s three-player class for the 2025 cycle.

Projected role for 2025-2026

Jan 4, 2025; Gilbert, AZ, USA; Gonzaga (DC) guard Derek Dixon (3) against Chaminade (MO) during the Hoophall West High School Invitational at Highland High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

North Carolina has high hopes for its 2025 recruiting class. And while we have seen it be a challenge for freshmen to crack the rotation early recently, Dixon could be an exception.

The talented forward will begin the year coming off the bench for Hubert Davis’ team but he could have a big role early on. North Carolina could bring him on the court as one of their first three players off the bench. His ability to shoot the basketball from the perimeter should be a big bonus for this team. The more he can knock down shots, the harder it will be for Davis to keep him on the bench.

I think as we go on with the season, Dixon’s role will continue to increase.

Derek Dixon Scouting Report

Dixon is a skilled combo-guard with an excellent feel for the game. He thinks and understands the game at a high-level and is both efficient and versatile with the ball in his hands. He’s a very good three-point shooter, with a compact release, and yet good loft and rotation despite his lack of a dip (39% in EYBL play). His best weapon though may be his mid-range pull-up. He’s also nearly automatic when he’s able to get to the free-throw line (91%).

Dixon is a true combo-guard who is capable of playing on and off the ball. While he isn’t the type of dynamic athlete who blows right by his defender or rises up at the rim in traffic, he can thrive in up-tempo systems because his head is always up and he advances the ball with the pass. He’s effective operating in ball-screens, particularly on the second-side of the floor, because defenders have to account for his ability to score at multiple levels. Simultaneously, he’s a threat to run off screens away from the ball and also provides significant gravity as a weakside floor-spacer. His ability to handle against pressure still needs to develop some, but his floor vision, ability to make reads, and passing are all impressive. Dixon also has an advanced left hand that he can utilize as a handler, passer, and finisher.

Defensively, he’s not going to stand out with his length or superior footspeed, but he’s a disciplined reliable team defender who understands concepts, opposing personnel, is typically in the right spots, and very aware on the weakside of the floor. He also has solid positional size in the backcourt.

Overall, Dixon is someone who “knows how to play,” as coaches say. He’s smart, very skilled, and plays the game with a level of maturity that makes him very reliable. That has helped drive winning at both the high school and grassroots levels, and should do the same at the college level.

Derek Dixon 2025-26 bold prediction

I believe that Derek Dixon will really surprise a lot of people, not only in the ACC but at the national level this season.

While he wasn’t a five-star recruit, he was a player who was on the rise as the season went on. He’s going to be an underrated player for the Tar Heels this season, and I believe he can be someone who is among UNC’s top perimeter shooters. I have him shooting around 30 percent from the three-point line and taking around four a game on average.