Michael Dixon (Getty Pictures)
Even although precedent prompt Michael Dixon would be cleared to play for Memphis this upcoming season, the NCAA’s scattershot rulings in latest weeks made the end result of his petition a bit less certain.
As a result, Memphis had to be relieved Wednesday afternoon when phrase leaked that the proficient former Missouri guard had been cleared to join an already gifted Tigers backcourt.
Dixon averaged 13.5 factors per recreation and emerged as one of the nation’s best sixth men at Missouri through the 2011-12 season, however he was dismissed from the staff final November after two different girls accused him of sexual assault. No expenses have been filed in opposition to Dixon, which is why he was capable of acquire a waiver to play immediately at Memphis the same means Maryland wing Dez Wells did a 12 months ago after being expelled from Xavier underneath related circumstances.
CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish was the primary to report the NCAA had granted Dixon the waiver he sought. Within seconds, Dixon’s new teammates were congratulating him on the end result of his petition and Memphis followers were boasting that their group’s backcourt is one of the best and deepest in the nation.
Add Dixon to a backcourt that already contains level guard Joe Jackson, excessive-scoring Geron Johnson and candy-taking pictures Chris Crawford, and it is simple to see why the Tigers can be excited. That quartet rivals any backcourt within the nation next season, although fellow American Athletic Conference powers Louisville and Conn are blessed with a wealth of proficient guards too.
What Dixon brings to Memphis is an ability to power turnovers and push the pace along with his protection and a knack for taking pictures from the perimeter or creating off the dribble in a half-courtroom set. It is seemingly Memphis coach Josh Pastner must make the most of some three- and 4-guard units with the intention to capitalize on the speed, athleticism and skill to finish in transition that so many of his guards possess.
Of course, all this is contingent on Dixon staying out of bother since he’ll absolutely be under a zero-tolerance coverage at Memphis.
Last spring, Pastner plucked Johnson from a junior college despite a checkered history of arrests and marijuana use, a decision he only made after diligently trying into Johnson’s background via conversations along with his household, former coaches and teammates. Johnson made an affect on the ground and created no issues off of it, exactly what Pastner hopes Dixon will have the ability to do.
Michael Dixon cleared to play at Memphis, giving the Tigers one of the nation’s deepest backcourts
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