UNC basketball point guard trending towards Big 12 program

TL;DR

UNC basketball point guard Derek Dixon is trending towards transferring to Arizona, following the firing of head coach Hubert Davis. Dixon's departure would mark the second transfer from the Tar Heels, after Jonathan Powell committed to Pittsburgh.

New head coach Mike Malone and North Carolina have made it a priority to retain the six Tar Heels who entered the transfer portal after Hubert Davis was fired, but keeping starting point guard Derek Dixon is looking increasingly unlikely.

Dixon, who ran the point for UNC over the latter half of the season, is now projected by 247Sports’ Crystal Ball to land at Arizona. The Wildcats, coming off their first Final Four appearance since 2001, have recruited Dixon aggressively since he entered the portal on April 6.

If he departs, he would become the second Tar Heel to leave, following Jonathan Powell, who committed to Pittsburgh on April 11.

Carolina initially turned to Kyan Evans to run the offense, allowing Dixon to develop and provide valuable minutes off the bench, but Evans’ inconsistency pushed coach Hubert Davis to reconsider the backcourt rotation. Dixon was not a 20-point-per-game scorer, but North Carolina’s offense ran noticeably smoother with him in control.

A former Gonzaga Prep standout from the DMV, Dixon quickly seized the starting job. He steadied the Tar Heels in a road comeback win at Kentucky on Dec. 2, then posted a then-career-high 14 points against Georgetown five days later.

Dixon solidified his role for the rest of the season when he scored 11 points and handed out seven assists in UNC’s upset win at Virginia on Jan. 24, a turning point for the Tar Heels after a 2-3 start in ACC play.

Dixon averaged 6.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 33 games, including 16 starts, while shooting 81.8 percent at the free-throw line.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Derek Dixon gets crystal ball to Arizona Wildcats

Q&A

Why is Derek Dixon likely transferring from UNC basketball?

Derek Dixon is likely transferring due to the coaching change at UNC, with new head coach Mike Malone struggling to retain players who entered the transfer portal.

Which program is Derek Dixon projected to join after leaving UNC?

Derek Dixon is projected to join Arizona, which has been actively recruiting him since he entered the transfer portal.

Who was the first player to leave UNC basketball after the coaching change?

The first player to leave UNC basketball after the coaching change was Jonathan Powell, who committed to Pittsburgh on April 11.