Coby White burst onto the scene during his lone season at North Carolina.
Remember: White wasn't the clear star of his recruiting class: five-star forward Nassir Little was. This allowed White to fly a bit under the radar, setting him up for a monster freshman season (one that earned him the opportunity to hear his name called in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft).
Now heading into his seventh season in the NBA (if you can believe that!), White still spends time during the summer months hanging out in Chapel Hill, his old stomping grounds. He had the opportunity to get an early glimpse of this year's squad and quickly identified one of the newcomers as a player whose game reminds him of himself when he was wearing the Carolina Blue uniform.
That guy is Derek Dixon, a 6-foot-5 true freshman guard from Vienna, Virginia.
One of three true freshman to join the program this season, Dixon isn't letting his youth hold him back. In fact, he aims to make an impact right away for Hubert Davis' squad, looking to fill whatever role is out there for him.
Our 2025-2026 UNC basketball player previews begin with Derek Dixon, an under-the-radar freshman who just might be the next under the radar star at the guard position.
Prior to North Carolina
Dixon was named the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year for the District of Columbia. As a senior at Gonzaga College High School, Dixon averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists, made 80 three-pointers and shot 38.5% from three-point range. He led his school to a 29-5 record, capturing the 2025 DC State Athletic Association Class AA state championship in the process.
His list of high school accolades is impressive to say the least. Dixon earned the following honors throughout his high school career, one that saw him tally a total of 1,557 points over his four varsity seasons:
-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year
-First-team All-DCSAA, All-MET, and All-DC
-Honorable mention Naismith All-America as a senior
-First-team All-WCAC (twice)
-MVP of the 2024-25 Gonzaga DC Classic
What to Expect in 2025-2026
Dixon's story could be very similar to White's.
White had Nassir Little holding the spotlight. Dixon has five-star forward Caleb Wilson garnering most of the attention.
It seems like the perfect recipe for Dixon to come in, fly under the radar, and just simply do his thing on the court.
While a starting role probably isn't likely to open up from the onset, a pivotal role off the bench could certainly be in Dixon's future. With the need for another play making ball-handler, Dixon has the ability to thrive in that role, especially considering that many around the program rave about how he is wise beyond his years on the basketball court.
Dixon could easily be one of the first guys off the bench for the Tar Heels and could see an increase in minutes as the 2025-2026 season rolls along. With a ton of players on the roster that are versatile (including Dixon), don't be surprised to see Dixon being used in different roles alongside various other backcourt players (especially the veterans such as Seth Trimble and Kyan Evans).
Bold Prediction
By the end of the 2025-2026 season, Derek Dixon will prove that he deserves to be a starter on this team during his sophomore season.
Expect the freshman to have his fair share of learning curves, but don't be surprised he starts to become an integral part of the team's regular rotation once it all starts to click.