Busting Brackets
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David Dixon set to spend entire 4-year career at Duquesne after spurning transfer portal

ByTristan Freeman|
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Duquesne Dukes forward David Dixon (2) grabs a second half rebound against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Duquesne Dukes forward David Dixon (2) grabs a second half rebound against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

The transfer deadline has come and gone, and outside of a few DI programs, everyone lost at least one scholarship player. Duquesne Basketball wasn’t immune to this, losing five players in last season’s rotation in Kareem Rozier, Matus Hronsky, Chabi Barre, Maximus Edwards, and Eli Wilborn. 

Considering that the Dukes went 13-19 last season and had a first-year head coach in Dru Joyce, having a roster change wasn’t unexpected. However, it may be viewed as a surprise as to who else didn’t leave the team. 

David Dixon, a 6’9 junior forward, started 10 games this past season, producing 5.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 19 mpg, mainly off the bench. He was part of the same recruiting class as Rozier and Hronsky for former Duquesne HC Keith Dambrot. On a team with plenty of depth in the frontcourt, Dixon was a surprise freshman contributor in the 2022-23 season, getting 11 mpg.

He played 37 games a year ago, producing a career-high 7.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 20 mpg and eight starts. So Dixon’s numbers and overall production took a slight dip, part of a three-headed center rotation with Wilborn and Barre. The addition of former Xavier center John Hugley caused two bigs to enter the portal, and could’ve easily been three with Dixon.

For 99% of players, entering the portal would make great sense. Dixon had already won an A-10 title and made the NCAA Tournament. He had a coaching change and could’ve quickly gone elsewhere for a more prominent role in his final season. That included Memphis, where Dixon is originally from, and lost all of its frontcourt players on the 2024-25 roster.

In the end, Dixon decided to come back for one more year, giving the Dukes a quality center duo with Hugley for next season and one of the better interior defenders in the A-10. He was a surprise freshman contributor and has developed into a key rotation piece for the program. And he surprises again by not leaving the team and staying with one school for his entire college career.

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