Early 2025 is set to be an exciting time for UNC basketball as Derek Dixon, a highly touted recruit, and his preseason-No. 10 Gonzaga College High School (D.C.) Eagles are just two days away from their 2024-25 debut. This highly anticipated event will take place at The Main Event prep showcase in Miami at 5:45 p.m. ET on Friday.

UNC Basketball's 2025 Debut - A Preview of Greatness

Pre-Season Showdown

On Friday, the Eagles will face off against the Oak Ridge High School (Fla.) Pioneers. This game is not only a significant moment for Derek Dixon but also a chance for the Gonzaga College High School team to showcase their skills. Dixon, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo backcourt talent, has been making waves in the recruiting world and is eager to make his mark on the college basketball stage.The following day, at 2:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dixon and his team will take on the Columbus High School (Fla.) Explorers and their heralded Boozer twins. Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound versatile bruiser sitting No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, and Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound crafty floor general boasting a No. 23 composite ranking, are sons of 2001 Duke basketball national champion and two-time NBA All-Star forward Carlos Boozer.

Duke's Recruiting Class

The Boozer twins inked their scholarship agreements with the Blue Devils during the early signing period in November. They joined Harvard-Westlake School (Calif.) five-star forward Nikolas Khamenia and Bellaire High School (Texas) five-star forward Shelton Henderson to give Duke the nation's top-ranked class at this juncture. This recruitment success has added to the excitement surrounding Duke basketball and has set the stage for some intense matchups in the future.Not long after that, despite Columbus beginning its highly anticipated campaign at No. 1 overall in the national rankings, the Explorers fell to Prolific Prep (Calif.) in their season opener. However, they have since improved to 3-1, showing their resilience and potential.

UNC's Early Signee

Derek Dixon, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo backcourt talent, became the first 2025 UNC basketball recruiting addition via his commitment in late September. He is fully on board as a future Tar Heel and is joined by one fellow early signee in Davidson Day School (N.C.) four-star guard Isaiah Denis, No. 62 overall. These two players bring a lot of talent and potential to the UNC basketball program and are expected to make an impact in the coming years.Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball recruiting news as these young players continue to make their mark on the basketball world.