Eric Dixon Still at the Top
Villanova Wildcat Eric Dixon has continued to defy expectations and cement himself as the NCAA’s leading scorer this year. The 6’8″ forward has garnered a lot of attention this season for not only his scoring prowess, but his increased overall significance to a school that has been yearning for success. The build up to being such a prolific for the Wildcats didn’t happen overnight but has been the culmination of nearly five years of improvement and growth. The jump from his freshman year to the proceeding years is truly surprising.
Throughout the beginning of his college career, Dixon had a rather rough start. His first season with the team in 2020 resulted in only eight minutes per game of playing time and he finished the season with an average of 3 points per game and 1.6 rebounds per game. However, the next season provided Dixon and Villanova fans alike an early glimpse into the future when he raised his scoring average to 9.1 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game in 25 minutes per game. From there, the future star would continue to raise his numbers to career highs last season, averaging 16.6 points per game and grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game.
Villanova Forward Eyeing the NBA
The jump Dixon made from last season to this season is astounding. He’s scoring a career high average of 25.7, up almost 10 points per game from last year, and his shooting percentages match his career highs across the board. His field goal percentage hovers just around 50%, which in and of itself is not impressive when considering his position and experience. However, that number is slightly skewed by his increased three-point shooting volume and production. Those numbers have most likely gone up due to the changing playstyle of the NBA and the versatility required of players Dixon’s size.
Dixon’s climbing shooting numbers have shined an even brighter light on the young star as the NBA draft looms. In the pre-season, Dixon was projected to only average 23 points per game, a number that he has eclipsed and is currently held by second place leading scorer in the NCAA Trenton McLaughlin of Northern Arizona. While being scouting in the preseason, that aspect of his game was highlighted as an area of improvement but was also stated as needing to be further developed to match an NBA level.
According to a draft report at the start of the season, the need to further develop his shooting was what would increase his draft stock, along with increasing his aggression in the paint. Versatility and space are coveted in the NBA, so it’s very understandable that these are what scouts are looking for. Players like Jason Tatum, Brandon Ingram and Paul George have made their careers off of their size combined with an unmatched offensive skillset to go along with capable defensive skills. Shot selection, decision making, floor spacing and management are the pillars of today’s NBA and are essential for incoming players to pick up.
The jump in Dixons numbers are a direct reflection of the expectations he will be faced with at the next level. But if he keeps up the pace he’s at, we could be looking at a new star rookie leading the 2025 NBA draft class.
The rise of Villanova’s young star has also had some negative side effects on the Wildcats’ head coach Kyle Neptune, who’s in his third season. One common sentiment shared among some corners of Nova fans and the NCAA community as a whole is that without the numbers Dixon is putting up, Neptune would be long gone, and the program would be in rebuild mode. As it stands, Neptune only has a 46-37 record as head coach of the Wildcats, which amounts to a winning percentage of .554%. For a team with such a bright star, the future of the program remains dark and bleak.
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