Vincennes University signs Karyiek Dixon to 2022 recruiting class

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers continue to size with the signing of six-foot-five 230 pound Karyiek Dixon.

“Karyiek will probably play as a four, maybe some three, we’ll see when he gets here,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “Obviously he’s a big, strong guy. He’s very bouncy and strong off of two feet and really knows how to use his body.”

“The game is a little different over in Europe, but he’s been in the screen and roll a lot and he uses his body very well,” Franklin added. “He was a rugby player primarily. He falls in line with what we are trying to do. We are trying to get back to having those body types and game types that we’ve had in the first 23 years of my career.”

Dixon comes to Vincennes from London, England where he averaged 18.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game last season for the London Elite Club and was named the 2022 National Basketball League (NBL) Division III South Player of the Year.

Dixon is a former rugby player, who didn’t start playing organized basketball until 2018 and is a very athletic and physical player.

Dixon joined London Elite after playing for Oasis Academy in the Academy Basketball League (ABL) in England.

Dixon received Second Team All-Western Conference honors at Oasis in 2020.

 “Karyiek and Michael Osei-Bonsu, those are two big, strong, linebacker type of body types,” Franklin said. “I think playing rugby has probably helped him learn how to use his body. He had a big year this past year in the highest level of club play that you can over there while maintaining his eligibility. His coaches in England were excited about how much he was improving throughout the year, so he’s an ascending player.”

“He fits with the types of guys that I’ve had down in the post before,” Franklin added. “I’ve lived with those 6-4, 6-5 type of guys and I’ve even gone to a Final Four with Chris Ames at Southeastern Illinois who was 6-2, who went on to start at Ball State. But these guys we are bringing in are big, strong guys with Karyiek, Michael and Victor Lado.”

“Last season, I didn’t like for the first time in my life being pushed around,” Franklin said. “We got pushed around last year. I had never been pushed around before, I’ve been smaller, have had smaller guys and undersized guys but never been pushed around. We’re making a pretty concerted effort for that not to happen this coming year. We’ve added some bulk already and we are still not done. I’m pretty determined to not be out-physicaled next year”

Karyiek Dixon is already drawing comparisons to another Trailblazer named Dixon, 2019 National Champion George Dixon who played at Western Illinois University last season.

“I like the last name too,” Franklin added. “The last Dixon we had in here built like that was pretty good for us and we hope Karyiek has similar success here. He’s got a similar body type and probably has a better natural shot and more bounce than George. George had great feet defensively, so they are all a little bit different, but we hope the Dixon name continues to have success here.”

“George was on a Final Four, almost a National Champion team as a freshman and came very close. Then won the National Championship as a sophomore, so hopefully the next Dixon can carry on that the same way,” Franklin said.

“We’re excited to sign Karyiek,” Franklin added. “We’re just looking to continue to put the guys together. We’ve got a pretty good group so far. Since he is an International guy, he will not be here this summer. We wish he was, but he’s not. Karyiek is just another brick in the wall that we are trying to build here and build it in a way that we have in the past. I think if he is willing and works, I think he will probably be successful here.”

The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Karyiek Dixon to the 2022 Trailblazer recruiting class.