Height/Weight: 6-3/190
High School: Washington (DC) Gonzaga College
2025 On3 150: No. 71
The Skinny: Derek Dixon has a consistently smooth release that he is comfortable getting into off movement, the catch, or stepping into it. Dixon takes care of possessions as a lead guard, moving the ball around and getting it where it needs to go within the flow of the offense. He has a strong frame and good size, but his shooting opens up a lot for him, especially off-ball rotations. This summer, playing with Team Takeover on Nikeās EYBL Circuit, Dixon shot 39.4 percent from three while leading the way in scoring at 15.3 points on 5.8 three-point attempts per game.
I think Dixonās 3pt shooting dropped off at the end from fatigue and being more on ball. Prior to peach jam, Dixon was like 45% from 3 over the spring/summer (At least I think, could be wrong).
Maybe unpopular, but I want Dixon the most out of our current top targets. Heās better fit than other guards, and think he offers the most in terms of long-term roster building (versus a likely one year impact guy).
I agree. I think his biggest offensive flaw (no idea how to evaluate and project these guys on defense, TBH) is that heās more likely to turn open space on-ball into a mid-range pull up rather than putting some pressure on the paint. But he has a lot of off-ball value with that smooth jumper and he plays with a good rhythm out of ball screens.
Largely agree. The simple fact is that the 2025 class wonāt be that critical to UVaās future if premature attrition next spring can be minimized, if not avoided altogether. Iāll be happy with any recruits who commit to Virginia. That said, looking at the roster today, a skilled ball handler, who has range, would meet future needs more than another front court player. Especially, a front court player who might only be in Charlottesville for a single season. As viewed from afar, Ament brings a lot more to the table than just his on-court skills. There is so much to like about the young man, and I would love to have him on Virginiaās team, but if he goes somewhere else, UVa will still be fine. Itās good to be a 'Hoo!
I just donāt see Ament seeing enough PT available with both Power and Saunders returning, unless weāre really able to sell the graduations of Taine and Warley, and Rohde as a non-factor, to really guarantee 3-spot minutes.
Iām kind of with StLou. Not so much that it would be Ament not getting the minutes, but someone would certainly be disappointed in minutes with the backlog of guys weād have.
Good potential problem to have but a potential problem nonetheless.
It is kind of weird we havenāt been able to pull a Baylor and essentially bring in one lotto type wing each season. Weāve got more success stories at the wing to point to than they do. They have general fit going for them (I guess?) idk, just weird to me.
My point was never that Ament wouldnāt play, only that itās enough of a logjam that heād take a cleaner path elsewhere, especially if for a coach with a proven OaD track record.
True. But I think itās still a different story from the developmental player who blows up to the top 3 recruit.
We really havenāt had that story since Ralph. And fwiw I donāt think that makes us a vacuum for these guys by any means but I do think it helps reclaim some of the positive perception weāve lost nationally recently.