Some Tar Heel fans still may not be over the whole Tommy Lloyd saga. After the Arizona head coach used North Carolina to get what he wanted at his current stop, he couldn't just leave us alone!
Now, he's poaching our players too!
Derek Dixon commits to Arizona
NEWS: North Carolina transfer guard Derek Dixon has committed to Arizona, he announced. https://t.co/yVm3ExPDrY pic.twitter.com/logkcyvLOo
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 13, 2026
After taking an official visit to Tucson, Derek Dixon has found his next home. While most Tar Heel fans hoped he'd return to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season, Dixon has decided to team up with the guy we all thought would be coaching the Tar Heels next season:
Tommy Lloyd.
On a crazy day in Chapel Hill, the news just keeps on coming in. From transfer portal commitments to coaching additions, along with some notable departures, the news just keeps on coming. Dixon's departure was expected but still disappointing, given the improvements he showed throughout his freshman season at North Carolina.
Just eight days after entering the transfer portal, Dixon sorted through his options to find his next landing spot. His commitment to Arizona shouldn't surprise anyone, given that he was heavily considering the Wildcats out of high school.
A native of Vienna, Virginia, Dixon appeared in all 33 games during his true freshman season at North Carolina. After serving as a reserve for the first 17 games, Dixon played his way into the starting lineup, a role he wouldn't lose grasp of throughout the remainder of the season.
Overall, Dixon averaged 6.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 39.7% from the floor and 36.5% from three-point range. His 81.8% from the free-throw line was also the best on the team.
North Carolina's transfer portal activity has basically signaled Dixon (along with other) departures, as Michael Malone and his staff have been working to replenish the roster that will have a very new look to it. Dixon became the second Tar Heel to find a new home this offseason, following Jonathan Powell (who recently committed to Pittsburgh).