#UNC freshman guard Derek Dixon

WCHL and chapel bro.com. You come from a

really competitive area of high school

basketball in DC, Northern Virginia. Uh

how do you think that that that playing

in that place helped transform you into

the player you are today? And how you

think that's going to help you in your

first year at Carolina?

Yeah, I think uh the DMV is a really

good area for high school basketball. Um

I think what that's really helped me

with, I've gotten really good coaching

from high school and AA both playing

with Team Takeover in Gonzaga. uh played

with really good players. So, I'm used

to playing with really good players just

like I'm gonna have to play here. And

then, like you said, the competition is

really good. So, I have to be ready

every night. There's no off days, you

know, playing in that area. So, the same

it is here. You got to be ready every

day to compete and bring your best.

Do you know Coach Davis was a Virginia

guy, too, before you knew him?

Uh, I didn't know that before I knew

him, but he he let me know once that

he's from Fairfax, too. And it's funny,

small world like uh where I play golf,

his dad plays golf and like stuff like

that. So, it really is a small world.

Derek Riley Davis from Sleepers Media

and he checked CBV. We know you were a

high level shooter coming out of high

school, but looking at Hubert's system

and how he's given his guards a lot of

freedom over the past few years. Has

that been something that you'all talk

much about? And even beyond that, have

you earned the the green light yet from

Coach Davis?

Yeah, we we've definitely had

conversations about good shots and bad

shots. Um, and you know, he's told me

that he has trust in me and, you know,

wants me to be comfortable and confident

taking taking shots because I'm capable

of making them. Um, but obviously

there's there's the right times, there's

the wrong times to take them. So, we've

had multiple conversations about, you

know, when to take those shots, you

know, what being open is, when like an

early shot in the shot clock versus a

late shot in the shot clock, what's a

good shot. So, we've definitely had

those conversations.

Andrew Jones, target 24/7 and Virginia

DC.

Yes, sir.

Kind of had that stuff.

Yes, sir.

How much how much on the ball are you

playing? How much off the ball are you

playing? And when and going into college

and kind of maybe doing a little bit of

both, what is that transition like for

you?

Yeah, going into college playing on the

ball was definitely something I was

looking for throughout the recruiting

process. Um, you know, trying to become

more of a point guard and here it's been

really good. I've been playing pretty

much only the one. Um, so it's been

really good to just get that experience

and, you know, get used to having the

ball in my hands more, making sure, you

know, I'm being a leader. And at the

point guard, you have to talk, making

sure I know where everybody needs to be

and learning all the reads and the plays

and making sure that I'm getting guys

where they're supposed to be.

And you have a lot of guys that have

that can shoot from perimeter. How does

that kind of make your job maybe a

little bit easier, maybe a little more

interesting?

For sure. It makes my job a little bit

easier knowing, you know, I when I draw

two defenders, I kick it out. There's a

guy that that's making shots, making

plays. Um, so you know, I have to do

less and I can just keep it simple and

just play the game the right way.

Derek, uh, Kitchen was in South

Carolina. I know you kind of talked

about your relationship with Kobe White

a little bit. I actually spoke with him

a few weeks ago and he he said that he

you you remind him of himself when he

came to Carolina. What does that kind of

mean to you and what advice is he kind

of given you?

Yeah, that I mean that definitely means

a lot coming from him being a a guy who

was really good here and play at the

next level now. Um, so it's been really

good growing our relationship with him.

And it's funny that uh he would say that

because I I saw the same thing when I

went back and watched a lot of his games

from here. Uh, saw a lot of similarities

in our game. We're both bigger guards,

on ball guards, can shoot the ball. So,

um, that really means a lot coming from

him. And just being around him this

summer and building our relationship,

uh, I've learned a lot from him about

the game, about Carolina, and just

about, you know, how to be the best

version of myself.

Speaking of being a bigger go, I'm Adam

Smith with Inside Carolina. Speaking of

being a bigger guard, how did you go

from 6'3 to 6'5 overnight?

What's the story there?

Yeah, I mean, it didn't quite happen

overnight. Uh, I mean, my senior year at

high school of high school, I was listed

at 65, but all the recruiting websites

and stuff had me at 6'3. Um, so it just

kind of is what it is. Um,

was it just like a glitch or something?

Like somebody put it in and everybody

else

I'm I'm not really sure. It might have

been like when I initially got on like

ESPN and stuff like that. I was listed

at 6'3 and they just never went back and

changed it or anything like that. But

yeah, I grew between my junior and

senior year. So I'm definitely a little

bit taller now than I was then.

Derek, you Brendon Marks from the

athletic. You mentioned that obviously

one of the things you wanted to do to

come to Carolina was continue to develop

as a point guard, get reps on the board.

What were some of the other reasons why

you wanted to be here and specifically

like what was your relationship with

Hooper like during the recruiting

process? Yeah, I mean, uh, I said this

multiple times throughout my interviews,

it's it's hard to turn this place down.

This is the biggest environment in

college basketball. So, h knowing that

there's an opportunity here, um, with a

lot of guards leaving last year, so I

saw that there was an opportunity here

and being able to play on this stage is

such a great opportunity for me. And,

uh, yeah, Coach Davis throughout the

whole recruiting process, um, just the

type of person he is, even off the

court, um, one of the nicest guys you'll

ever meet, family oriented. Um, so just,

you know, being spending time with him

off the court, I really connected with

that and then on the court, passionate

and, you know, really loves his players

and pours into them. So I just I just

love the way he was on and off the

court. So it really made my decision

easier.

Derek, speaking of some of those

recruiting websites that had you listed

at 63, is there any part of you that

like maybe relishes and being a little

underranked? You know, looking at your

your resume, 13 to1 at Peach Jam, I

think back in 2024, Team Takeover, 39%

from three. I'm looking at this like

how's this kid at least not you know top

25? What's your what's your take on all

that?

Yeah, I try not to pay attention to it.

Um I mean obviously I see it but um just

trying to just focus on being the best

version of myself, getting better every

day and you know in the long run that

stuff will play out and it doesn't

really mean that much. I'm I'm here now

so I got the same opportunity as

everyone else that's here.

Shelby Swansea with the news we were

just talking to you Jonathan. I know

that um he's known for, you know, maybe

here and at West Virginia kind of

ripping the practice.

If you you see that so far at um here at

UNCC and if so, like when was that kind

of describe your reaction that you've

been throwing?

Yeah. Uh I've seen him wear a jersey

this year at practice. Um I remember we

were in the practice gym. Uh he wasn't

shooting great. Missed missed a couple

too many shots for him for his liking

and gave it a little tug. But um

it it did a little bit. It did. It did.

But I mean that's just the type of guy

he is. He's a competitor. He's

passionate and those are the type of

guys you want to play with.

Yeah. I mean is that something he has

kind of spoken previously about maybe a

few you know guys like that that are

that are really pretty. What do you

think um that brings to the team? Just

kind of the dynamic that

Yeah, I think we got a lot of

competitors this year. JP's one of them.

I mean every practice competitive guys

are going at it. Um, and you know, it's

good to see that and guys going at it

all practice long and then off the court

we're we're just as cool in the locker

room. So being around a team of guys

that's so competitive and so passionate

about winning is just it's good and it's

what's best for the team.

Jeremiah all the way with inside

Carolina. Derek for you coming in

obviously this being your first year.

Who who among your teammates do you feel

like you're kind of learning from the

most? Obviously you have you know a

range of different experiences at that

guard position but you feel you're kind

of learning from the most? Yeah, I'd say

the biggest two guys that have taken me

under their wing a little bit have been

Seth and Cayenne. Um, Seth was my like

guide when I was here on my visit, so

I'd known him a little bit beforehand.

And as soon as I came in the summer, he

kind of took me under his wing. You

know, we call each other twin, like

light-skinned squad. Um,

so yeah, it's been really good learning

from him, spending time around him. Um,

and then off the court, he's a funny

guy, cool guy, good to hang out with.

And Ken as well. We really clicked

quickly over the summer. um both being

on ball guards and it's it's fun to go

at him every day during practice and

then off the court he's a he's a really

cool guy to be around.

Hey Gary, it's Tom here from Inside

Sport. Um in this transport porter era

there's a lot of turnover on rosters and

then a lot of schools shield their

freshman till later in the year. You

enjoying to get a chance to introduce

yourself to the media this early in the

year before the tip off and maybe uh

them getting to know you getting to know

us.

Mhm. Yeah, I think this is really good.

I mean, obviously it's something that's

new for me. Um, so, you know, it's a

good experience to just get get a little

training and get to know some familiar

faces. So, yeah, I think this is a

really good opportunity for me.

Darren, no tough at Tar Hill 24/7. Can

you describe your relationship with

Caleb and what it's been like sort of

being around him and then on the court

and off the court, I guess, both.

Mhm. Yeah, Caleb's my guy. Um, live down

the hall from each other, all the

freshman do. Um, spent a lot of time

with him on on the court and off the

court, you know, working out. you know,

the first week we came here, we worked

out in the morning before our

orientations every day. Um, so it's just

been really good to get to know him and

he's a funny guy. He's a social guy.

Likes to troll. You guys have probably

seen that. Um, so yeah, it's been it's

been really good to spend time with him.

It's a lot of fun whenever I'm with him.

And yeah, on the court he's a great

player, but off the court, he's a really

good person.

Derek Rodaxley, Fable Observer. What

stood out in your conversations and

watching film with a guy like Marcus

Paige?

I mean, it's it's a blessing to be able

to learn from a guy like Marcus Paige

who's had so much experience at this

level and uh as well as the next level.

Um, and just being able to to learn from

him and pick his brain, you know, film

studies with him. I work out with him

pretty much every day that I can. Um, so

it's been so good to learn from him and

just see his experiences and what he's

looking at um and through different

things and, you know, it's been really

good and getting confidence from him. um

seeing the way that he you know trusted

my game and is supporting me has been

really good. So I I'm really

appreciative for Marcus.

What's the biggest thing you've learned

so far or the points of emphasis so to

speak to this point?

I think a lot of it has been like ball

screen reads. Um just making sure I'm

making the right plays, not trying to do

too much. Um making sure I'm taking care

of the ball as as much as possible and

taking good shots when they're there for

me. Derek, but obvious obviously early

October, but as this team is starting to

come together, I mean, it's a completely

new group from all over the place. Like,

what do you see as the personality?

You've spoken to that a little bit. The

personality of this group and the

strengths like what what can this team

become, do you think?

I think we have a chance to be a really

good team. Um, we've got a lot of size,

a lot of length, um, shooting, um, and

like I said, a lot of competitive guys.

So, it's it's been really good to be

around them. I felt like we clicked

really quickly this summer. So, it

hasn't been like a struggle to, you

know, mesh together and uh I think we

just got to keep getting better each and

every day and uh take what goes from

there. And

just a note on that, just kind of

clicking really quickly. I know that um

Jonathan was just in here telling us

that he felt like those open gym

sessions really helped you guys early in

the summer and that was a big kind of

part of you all meshing. Um I know some

of them got chippy, he said. Anything

anything stand out? Any stories from

that that you can share? of course.

Um yeah, open gym this summer was really

fun just getting to learn about each

other, learn each other's games, um

playing with each other and yeah, they

were definitely competitive. Um lot it's

cool, you know, having the older guys

come back, the alumni come back and play

with us and getting to learn from them

as well. And uh I mean, yeah, every day

was competitive. We got guys here who

don't like to lose. Nobody likes to

lose. So, uh it was it was a lot of fun

getting to play those runs this summer.

Couple more.

Sorry, just really quick. When we hear

you guys say like, oh, you know, Seth,

for instance, told us that I feel like

we really measure each other in 10 or 14

days. What do you like I guess what do

you use to kind of measure that? Does

that make sense? Like at what point are

you like, oh yeah, we we're together, we

gel. Like what goes into that? How do

you judge that?

I think it's just uh everyone really

like just being comfortable and showing

their like true personalities coming out

of their shells kind of. Um, even me,

I'm more of a quiet person, but I felt

like I could, you know, be myself and

was comfortable around these guys really

quickly. And, uh, I feel like that's

been really good. And everybody, you

know, just coming out of their cells and

being able to be themselves.

If

you go back to your time with Cubby

White this summer, was there anything

deep that you learned from him? He

played a lot as a freshman. Kind of

didn't start right away, but started

about mid December, late December. Is

there anything that he imparted on you

that's kind of deep that you were

surprised you learned from a guy like

him?

I mean, it was nothing like out of the

ordinary. Um, just he made sure to tell

me that, you know, I got to work for

everything that I'm that I'm going to

get and uh just got to be in the gym

every day and be hungry and, you know,

don't be complacent just cuz I'm a

freshman or anything. You know, be

vocal, you know, take take my place

where it is and just compete every day.

Derek, you mentioned Seth showing you

around in your visit. Was there a moment

on that visit that you can recall that

really sealed the deal where you're

like, "Okay, this is where I'm going to

go." Um, I'm not sure if it was on the

visit, but I think after the visit, just

looking back and just seeing, you know,

the whole picture of it after seeing,

you know, obviously the coaching staff,

spending time with them, um, seeing the

gym and, you know, all the people around

the the program and then just the campus

and the feel on the campus, uh,

reflecting back, it it be it became an

easier choice for me. If you're doing a

draft of the best shooters on this team,

like you're trying to pick the best one

to to win a competition, like how how do

you see this thing if you encourage,

you know, like who's going first, who's

going second, like how do you see this

thing shaping up a draft of the best

shooters in your

Well, I'm going to take myself first.

Got to um

JP would definitely be up there. Ken

would definitely be up there.

Um,

Jiren can really shoot the ball.

I don't want I feel like I'm forgetting

somebody. I'm leaving somebody off.

Luka, maybe.

Luca, definitely the Luca's up there.

Um, I think that would be my my top five

right there.

Anybody else?

Derek, as as a guard, things can get a

lot easier when you have reliable big

man. What can you tell us about the big

men in this group, particularly Henry

and Caleb?

Yeah, I mean, they make playing with

them really easy. Um, I mean, big men,

uh, setting good screens, getting

rebounds, getting out, running the

floor. Um, and they're both really good

passers, have really good vision. So,

you know, cutting off ball movement,

they'll find you. So, it's been really

fun to play with them and have big men

that skilled. And they can also space

the floor and stretch the floor, which

gives more attacking lanes for everybody

else.

Derek, you mentioned obviously you're a

bigger guard. There's a lot more length

on this team than there was last year.

How do you sort of see the defensive

pieces fit together and versatility on

that end of the floor?

Yeah, I think defensively we should be a

really good team. Um, being able to

switch and guard multiple positions for

multiple guys and then, uh, rebounding

is a big thing obviously. Um, so I think

those two things will really help us on

the boards and and switching and stuff

like that on defense.

Got time for one more.

I'll take it.

Sorry.

Um I'm cur so you're um I know that

you're really close obviously with

Caleb. You said that's your guy. I know

you guys hang out like a bit with Luca.

Is he also down the

Ivon?

Ivon.

Tell me a little bit just about like

hanging out with um Ivonne and just what

it's been like, you know, going out and

kind of hanging around Chapel Hill and

showing him around.

Yeah, Ivon's a really funny guy. Um he's

not not a man of a lot of words, but

he's he's always down to go wherever me

and Caleb go and just give him a call,

knock on his door. He's there and it's

been really good getting to know him and

just his like different perspectives and

view on the world and it's been a lot of

fun.

What have been the biggest thing you you

learned from from him there that you

guys have kind of showed him?

Um

I think just trying to get him like more

comfortable. um in here and uh you know

taking him to all the different spots

and you learning what are his favorite

spots and stuff like that have been a

lot of fun for us.

Thank you.

Thanks D.