Eric Dixon jumps center in a game against Georgetown last season. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
October 28, 2024
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Player Spotlight: Eric Dixon
Class: Graduate Student
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 265 pounds
Hometown: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
2023-24 stats: 34 games/34 starts, 16.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, .465 FG (193-415), .346 3PT (55-159), .862 FT (125-145)
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New faces, high hopes for the program, and additions to his game have Eric Dixon excited and energized for a fifth season at Villanova.
Dixon already has had a standout career on the Main Line, amassing 1,499 points and 724 rebounds in four seasons. He is returning for another season of eligibility, granted to players in his class due to COVID-19, after withdrawing from the NBA draft in late May. Counting his redshirt redshirt season, Dixon is entering his sixth year at Villanova.
“It’s nice to be home,” Dixon recently told Big5Hoops.com.
New Teammates
The Wildcats brought in size, scoring, and shooting via the transfer portal with the additions of 6-foot-11 forward Enoch Boakye (Fresno State), 5-11 point guard Jhamir Brickus (La Salle), 6-9 guard Kris Parker (Alabama), 6-4 guard Tyler Perkins (Penn), and 6-5 guard Wooga Poplar (Miami).
Additionally, Villanova’s four-player freshman class of 6-8 wing Matthew Hodge, 6-2 point guard Aleksandar Gavalyugov, 6-6 forward Josiah Moseley, and 6-8 forward Malcolm Thomas provide talent and depth—and building blocks for the future.
They all have looked to Dixon for leadership and advice. It’s something Dixon, who will turn 24 years old on January 26, not only embraces and enjoys but something that has revitalized him.
“It has refreshed me,” Dixon said. “It’s nice to have those guys. They bring good energy and want to be good at it. I’m honored to be a leader and role model.”
New Players
Here’s Dixon snapshot take on the new Wildcats:
–Brickus: “Crafty, intelligent, tough.”
–Perkins: “Tough, competitive.”
–Boakye: “Tough, energetic, physical.”
–Parker: “Freak athlete, really tough kid.”
–Poplar: “Intelligent, shooter, obviously he’s athletic, but his shooting will surprise you.”
–Hodge: “Shooter, intelligent, for a young kid he’s picking up things quickly.”
–Moseley: “Defender, rebounder, athlete, plays big, and plays hard.”
–Thomas: “Freak athlete, gotta learn how to talk a little more, but talent is there.”
– Gavalyugov: “Skill, intelligent, tough, young, he’s hungry for it.”
New Look
In three April games at the Portsmouth Invitational, a showcase for potential NBA prospects, Dixon averaged 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 26.3 minutes while shooting 47 percent (16 of 34) from the field, including 2 of 10 from three-point range.
He is looking to expand his game this season, displaying more versatility that not only will help the Villanova program but also Dixon’s NBA prospects. It’s likely that Dixon will play less of a back-to-the-basket game, looking to take his man off the dribble and get to the rim or set up teammates for success. He’ll also continue to expand his long-range game after shooting 34.6 percent (55 of 159) from three-point range last season.
“I feel a lot more comfortable with the spots I’m getting shots from and getting to those spots,” said Dixon, who has spent countless hours of reps this offseason adding to his game.
Helping Dixon add pieces has been assistant coach Jamie Young, who brings 24 years of experience as an NBA assistant coach, including the last 20 for the defending champion Boston Celtics, to the Wildcats bench.
“Just little things, spacing, cutting, how to set screens, angles,” Dixon said of what he’s learning from Young. “Small thoughts. Just trying to take his expertise. It’s good to hear new stuff. As much freshness and new energy, in my sixth year, is good for me. To have his energy and thoughts is good for me and the team.”
New Excitement
The influx of talent through the transfer portal and freshman class has brought a new energy to Dixon and Villanova. The Wildcats are looking to get back to the NCAA tournament this season after disappointingly missing the last two.
Dixon likes what Villanova has.
“We just have a good team, guys who want to be part of a team, who know that they need each other,” he said. “We all understand that we’re all a small piece of the bigger puzzle. Just us wanting to be a team and wanting to be together.”
Dixon is excited to get going.
“I’m excited to play; I love playing basketball,” he said. “It means more to me to be this close to home. Maybe I’m a little more excited this year because I know it’s my last year. I don’t really do it for myself, I do it for those around me. To have the young guys, to have this staff, to be their leader, I’m excited to get going and get rolling.”
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.