The North Carolina Tar Heels re-shaped their entire basketball roster in the offseason, adding talent from both the transfer portal and their 2025 recruiting class.
Two of those additions are in the backcourt: point guards Kyan Evans and Derek Dixon. After a successful sophomore campaign at Colorado State, which included a Mountain West Tournament crown and NCAA Tournament upset over Memphis, UNC tabbed Evans its initial starter.
With his recent surge, including 11 points, four rebounds and a season-high seven assists in Saturday’s 85-80 road upset of Virginia, Dixon should be North Carolina’s starting PG going forward.
Dixon began his recent tear with a 14-point, 3-assist game during the Tar Heels’ January 17 loss at Cal. On Wednesday, Dixon scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two helpers during UNC’s 91-69 domination of Notre Dame.
Dixon enjoyed his first big moment way back in December, when he scored five of the Tar Heels’ final six points, in a 67-64 road upset of Kentucky. The next game, Dixon scored a season-high 14 points in UNC’s 81-61 domination of Georgetown.
Dixon is our PG and needs all the minutes he can get between now and March. https://t.co/HHJJDYTBgW
— JC (@John_Chilton) January 24, 2026
Derek Dixon is the definition of a Carolina PG
— HubertsBurner (@UNCballTalk) January 24, 2026
Derek Dixon today @ Virginia:
11 PTS
7 ASTS
4 REBS
1 TO
32 MINS— Jacob Rhymer (@Rhymetime05) January 24, 2026
Bounce back going crazy!! Dixon is PG1 no question!🐏 #GDTBATHpic.twitter.com/DVUB35coPJ
— Brax (@BraxJF) January 24, 2026
North Carolina featured the likes of RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson and Seth Trimble in its backcourt a season ago. Now, Dixon joins Evans, Trimble, Jaydon Young, Luka Bogavac, Isaiah Denis and Jonathan Powell in a deeper backcourt still finalizing its roles.
Dixon entered Chapel Hill a reigning state champion and D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year. Now a freshman who inserts instant energy into the Tar Heels’ lineup, Dixon needs to be the starting point guard going forward.
Can Dixon end his first collegiate season the way he finished his last high school campaign: by leading his team to a championship?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Derek Dixon is the new starting PG in Chapel Hill
