By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — The practices at Carolina have been as intense as any game, and freshman Derek Dixon wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since arriving on campus, the 6–5 guard from Vienna, Va., has been immersed in a competitive environment that suits him perfectly. From spirited summer open gym battles, some of which got chippy, to daily battles in practice, Dixon has quickly learned that this year’s Tar Heels are built on toughness and defense.

“We’ve got a lot of competitors,” said Dixon, a four-star recruit who ESPN ranked No. 55 in the Class of 2025. “Guys are going at it every day.”

Even when things got heated, Dixon embraced the challenge. He especially enjoyed the summer pick-up games, which often featured former UNC players. It was an opportunity to learn about his teammates’ tendencies, build chemistry and absorb wisdom from alumni.

“Nobody likes to lose,” he said, summing up the team’s shared mindset.

That competitive spirit has helped a roster that includes 10 newcomers bond quickly, especially his fellow freshmen who live just down the hall.

Dixon has grown particularly close to five-star freshman forward Caleb Wilson. The two have spent countless hours together working out, watching film and sharing laughs that have helped forge a brotherhood.

“Caleb’s my guy,” Dixon said with a grin. “He’s funny, loves to troll, and he’s just a great person to be around, on and off the court.”

The intensity Dixon sees in Chapel Hill feels familiar. Growing up in the basketball-rich Washington area, he sharpened his skills at Gonzaga College High School and with the elite AAU program Team Takeover. That background prepared him for the daily grind at UNC.

“There are no off days in the DMV,” he said. “You’ve got to bring it every night, just like here.”

Dixon certainly brought it during his senior season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while making 80 3-pointers at a 38.5% clip and earning the 2025 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year award.

He committed to UNC on his 18th birthday, a fitting milestone for a lifelong dream.

“It’s hard to turn this place down,” said Dixon, who turned 19 last month. “This is the biggest environment in college basketball. With so many guards leaving, I saw an opportunity to contribute right away.”

He’ll play under Coach Hubert Davis, who also grew up in Northern Virginia in Burke. Their connection runs deep on and off the court.

“Coach Davis is one of the nicest, most family-oriented people you’ll meet,” Dixon said. “He’s passionate on the court, and I really connected with him off it. That made my decision easier.”

Their families even share a link: both of their fathers play golf at the same course.

Though recruiting sites once listed him at 6–3, Dixon experienced a late growth spurt and now stands at 6–5. That added height, combined with his court vision, has allowed him to transition full-time to point guard, a role he specifically sought during the recruiting process.

“I’ve been playing almost exclusively at the one,” he said. “It’s been great to get that experience, learning the reads, leading the team and making sure everyone’s in the right spot.”

Surrounded by shooters, Dixon has found it easy to keep things simple.

“When I draw two defenders, I just kick it out,” he said. “There’s always someone ready to make a play.”

One of those former Tar Heels who returned last summer, Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, saw something familiar in Dixon’s game. Dixon’s game reminded White of his game, he told the freshman.

“That definitely means a lot coming from him, a guy who was really good here and plays at the next level now,” said Dixon, who added that when he watches White’s games, he sees a lot of similarities. “We’re both bigger guards, on-ball guards who can shoot it.”

White, who took charge early in his only season at UNC, had plenty of advice for Dixon.

“He made sure to tell me that I’ve got to work for everything that I’m going to get,” Dixon said. “Just got to be in the gym every day and be hungry and don’t be complacent just because I’m a freshman.”

Dixon has also leaned on former UNC great Marcus Paige, now on the coaching staff. From workouts to film sessions, Paige has helped him gain a new perspective on the game.

“It’s been so good to learn from him and just see his experiences and what he’s looking at and through different things,” Dixon said. “Getting confidence from him, seeing the way that he trusts in my game and is supporting me, it’s been really good.”

While Dixon’s leadership and defensive intensity are already turning heads, his most dangerous weapon remains his jumper. If the team held a shooting draft, he said he’d pick himself first. But he’s quick to mention teammates Jonathan Powell, Kyan Evans, Jarin Stevenson and Luka Bogavac as dangerous perimeter shooters.

Coach Davis has given him the green light — within reason.

“We’ve definitely had a lot of conversations about good shots and bad shots,” Dixon said. “He told me that he has trust in me and wants me to be comfortable and confident taking shots because I’m capable of making them.”

In a year when the transfer portal has reshaped rosters across the country, UNC’s freshmen have had to grow up fast. For Dixon, that has meant stepping into the spotlight early and speaking to the media and fans well before playing his first college game.

“It’s new, but it’s a good experience,” he said. “Getting familiar with faces and learning how to handle it. It’s all part of the process.”

On the court, he’s bonded with veteran guard Seth Trimble, who hosted him on his first visit to Chapel Hill.

“We call each other twin, light-skin squad,” Dixon said of Trimble. “It’s been really good learning from him, spending time around him. And then, off the court, he’s a funny guy, cool guy to hang out with. We really clicked quickly over the summer, both being on-ball guards, and it’s fun to go at him every day during practice, and then off the court, he’s a really cool guy to be around.”

Despite his calm demeanor, Dixon doesn’t hide his excitement about what this team could become.

“We’ve got size, length, shooting, and a lot of competitive guys,” he said. “I think we have a chance to be really good. We just have to keep getting better every day.”

From Vienna to Chapel Hill, from Gonzaga to the Smith Center, Derek Dixon’s journey has been fueled by competition and now by opportunity.

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Date	Time/ scores	Month/day	Opponent/event (current ranks)	TV
		October	Exhibitions
9	W, 88–70	Friday	vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro
18	L, 76–58	Sunday	vs. Indiana in Indianapolis
27	7:30	Tuesday	vs. Charlotte	ACCN Extra
		November	Regular season
2	7 p.m.	Monday	vs. Western Carolina	ACCN
6	7 p.m.	Friday	vs. Wofford	ACCN
10	7 p.m.	Tuesday	vs. Wyoming	ACCN
13	7 p.m.	Friday	vs. Georgia	ESPN2
20	9 p.m.	Friday	vs. Marshall	ACCN
23	7 p.m.	Monday	vs. Monmouth	ACCN
27	7 p.m.	Friday	Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte	ESPN
		December
1	7:30	Tuesday	ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas	ESPN
6	3 p.m.	Sunday	vs. Butler	ESPN2
12	Noon	Saturday	at Georgetown	Peacock
15	7 p.m.	Tuesday	Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro	ESPN2
19	2:30	Saturday	CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York	CBS
21	8 p.m.	Monday	vs. The Citadel	The CW
30	4 p.m.	Wednesday	vs. California	ACCN
		January
2	4 p.m.	Saturday	at Boston College	ESPN or ESPN2
5	9 p.m.	Tuesday	at No. 11 Louisville	ESPN or ESPNU
9	Noon	Saturday	vs. N.C. State	ESPN2
13	7 p.m.	Wednesday	at Florida State	ESPN2 or ESPNU
16	2:15	Saturday	vs. Stanford	The CW
19	9 p.m.	Tuesday	vs. No. 9 Virginia	ESPN
23	Noon	Saturday	at Syracuse	ESPN or 2 or U
26	7 p.m.	Tuesday	vs. SMU	ESPN or ESPN2
30	6 or 6:30	Saturday	Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn.	ESPN
		February
2	7 p.m.	Tuesday	at Notre Dame	ESPN or ESPN2
6	2:15	Saturday	vs. Georgia Tech	The CW
8	6 p.m.	Monday	vs. No. 11 Louisville	ESPN
13	5:30	Saturday	at No. 2 Duke	ABC
20	7 p.m.	Saturday	at Wake Forest	ACCN
22	7 p.m.	Monday	vs. No. 14 Miami	ESPN
27	7 p.m.	Saturday	at Virginia Tech	ESPN
		March
2	9 p.m.	Tuesday	at Pittsburgh	ESPN or ESPN2
6	6 or 6:30	Saturday	vs. No. 2 Duke	ESPN
9–13		Tues.-Sat.	ACC tournament in Greensboro

No.	Class	Player	Pos.	Hgt	Wgt
25	Freshman	Maxi Adams	F	6–7	220
30	Freshman	Malloy Smith	G	6–5	180
21	Freshman	Sayon Keita (SIGH-on KAY-tuh)	C	7–0	205
5	Freshman	Kevin Thomas	W	6–6	205
35	Sophomore	Cade Bennerman — U	C	7–0	205
17	Sophomore	Neo Avdalas — W (NEE-oh ahv-DOLL-lus)	G	6–9	220
2	Sophomore	Isaiah Denis	G	6–4	185
3	Sophomore	Matt Able — X	G	6–5	200
22	Junior	Alex Samodurov (SAH-muh-DUHR-off)	C	6–11	225
1	Senior	Terrence Brown — Y	G	6–3	180
4	Senior	Jaydon Young (JAY-din)	G	6–4	200
15	Senior	Jarin Stevenson (JARE-in)	F	6–10	220
14	Graduate	Angelo Brizzi — Z (BRIZZ-ee)	G	6–3	200
54	Graduate	Cameron Fens — V (Fenz)	C	7–0	255
		Walk-ons
99	Junior	John Holbrook — SA	F	6–8	230
32	Senior	Evan Smith	G	6–1	200

V — South Dakota transfer; U — Northwestern transfer; W — Virginia Tech transfer; X — N.C. State transfer; Y — Utah transfer; Z — Buffalo transfer; SA — Holbrook is a designated student-athlete, so he doesn’t count against UNC’s 15-player limit.

Coach Michael Malone’s coaching staff — Associate head coach Chuck Martin; assistant coaches Bryan Tibaldi (tih-BALL-dee), Sean May, Jorge Sanz (HOR-hey sahnth), Pat Sullivan and Brandon Robinson; Director of player development Deon Thompson.

Former players at other schools

Player	Class	Pos.	Hgt	Wgt	Next school
Luka Bogavac	Senior	W	6–6	215	Oklahoma State
James Brown	Senior	C	6–10	240	Howard
Derek Dixon	Sophomore	G	6–5	200	Arizona
Kyan Evans	Senior	G	6–2	175	Minnesota
Zayden High	Junior	C	6–10	230	South Florida
Jonathan Powell	Junior	G	6–6	190	Pittsburgh
Ivan Matlekovic	Junior	C	7–0	255	Pacific