It has been nearly 20 months since UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his staff secured a commitment on the recruiting trail, but that long wait could soon end.
Gonzaga College High School (D.C.) four-star senior Derek Dixon, a top target for the Tar Heels, has set his decision date for Sept. 27, which coincides with his 18th birthday. Dixon, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo guard ranked No. 47 overall and No. 8 at his position according to the 247Sports 2025 Composite, has narrowed his choices to six schools: UNC, Pitt, Virginia, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Arizona.
The Tar Heels, who offered Dixon back in late May, recently hosted him for his final visit. He canceled a planned trip to Arizona after his visit to UNC earlier this month, having already visited Vanderbilt the previous weekend.
Among UNC’s other top targets for the 2025 class are five-star guard Braylon Mullins (Greenfield-Central, Ind.), four-star guards Acaden Lewis (Sidwell Friends, D.C.) and Isaiah Denis (Davidson Day School, N.C.), five-star forwards AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep) and Nate Ament (Highland School, Va.), as well as Niko Bundalo (Prolific Prep, Calif.) and Nikolas Khamenia (Harvard-Westlake, Calif.).
2025 4⭐️ Derek Dixon told @LeagueRDY he’s set to make his college announcement on September 27th. He’s currently down to six schools:
Pitt
Virginia
Syracuse
North Carolina
Vanderbilt
ArizonaDixon has taken officials to Vandy, North Carolina, Syracuse, Pitt and Virginia. #51 in… pic.twitter.com/m3omi4S7vl
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) September 13, 2024