Derek Dixon Makes Transfer Portal Decision After Leaving UNC Following Hubert Davis Firing

The Arizona men's basketball team reportedly added some notable depth to its backcourt Monday.

Insider Jonathan Givony reported former North Carolina point guard Derek Dixon committed to the Wildcats after entering the transfer portal. Givony noted the team's "backcourt is set with Dixon, JJ Mandaquit and Caleb Holt."

Dixon was one of six North Carolina players to enter the portal following the firing of head coach Hubert Davis. 

Grant Chachere of USA Today's Tar Heels Wire noted new head coach Michael Malone "made it a priority to retain" those players, but the point guard is not returning to Chapel Hill. Instead, he will chase a national title with an Arizona program that just reached the Final Four this past season.

He wasn't the only reported departure Monday:

Dixon arrived at North Carolina as a 4-star prospect and the No. 44 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

While he flashed his potential at times, he was largely a secondary contributor in his first collegiate season and averaged 6.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from deep.

He will have to improve his overall shooting efficiency from inside the arc if he is going to live up to that potential, but his outside range bodes well for a Wildcats team that has a handful of impact guards and will need him to connect on open looks.

Dixon also appeared to turn something of a corner late in the season and scored in double figures in each of North Carolina's final three games. If he can continue that momentum with Arizona, he will likely improve on his individual numbers.

Based largely on his overall potential, 247Sports ranked Dixon as the 47th-best player in the transfer portal this cycle. 

He will have high expectations when he arrives at Arizona, and he can put the Wildcats in position to challenge for another Final Four if he lives up to them.