HICKORY, N.C. — Catawba Valley Community College men's basketball player Zion Dixon has been named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Player of the Week for games played the week of Nov. 6-12.
The NJCAA officially announced Dixon's honor on Wednesday. The 5-11 guard from Winston-Salem, N.C. becomes the third Red Hawk men's basketball player to win a weekly NJCAA honor in program history.
Dixon said the weekly award is something he had his eyes on coming into the season.
"I just put in the work every day and come into the gym with my teammates to work hard together," Dixon said. "I'm just going to keep working hard and do what I do."
Dixon's performances this past week helped set or tie several Red Hawk men's basketball program records, including the most points in a game (152) and in a half (80) in program history.
He scored 39 points against Division I Caldwell, helping the Division II Red Hawks beat the Cobras 97-94 in overtime It was the first win against Caldwell since Nov. 28, 2018.
Dixon's 39 points are now tied with Jonathan McFall (2018-20) for the most by a Red Hawk men's basketball player in a game in program history.
"We keep breaking records every game," Dixon said. "In the overtime game against Caldwell, I just knew I had a good game and that we won. That's all I cared about. A day later, I saw I set a school record. I didn't even know. My friends told me and then I told my parents. It's just the beginning of the season, but we want to keep winning and getting better."
In three games during the week, Dixon scored 74 points (24.6 per game), grabbed 16 rebounds and made 24 assists.
Red Hawk head men's basketball coach Shawn Johnson was impressed by Dixon's all around performance during the week.
"A lot of people will seeing the scoring, which was phenomenal to be under six foot. Scoring 39 points in a game is tough, but he also had great on-ball defense, and he had a lot of assists," Johnson said. "It wasn't that he was just shooting the ball every time down the floor. He was reading the defenses and making the right plays for us."
For a Red Hawk men's basketball team with only two returning players, Johnson says that Dixon has helped provide pivotal leadership for his program.
"He makes sure the team is in the right state of mind — whether that's in practice or in games," Johnson said of Dixon. "He's done a great job of leading along with a couple of other guys. He's brought a mentality of not giving in and not retreating — that 'never say die' attitude, which is great when you know you can get that from your point guard. He's done a great job in both of those areas."
Dixon and the Red Hawks return to action on Thursday for another home contest — this time against Sandhills Community College at 6 p.m.
Coming off a big week and some national recognition, Dixon says both accolades will help fuel he and his teammates moving forward.
"It gives us all confidence and shows us what we can do," Dixon said. "In the preseason, we didn't know how we were going to be. I just kept trying to tell my teammates we are going to be alright. In the first four games we've shown that we're going to be alright if we just keep putting in the work."
NJCAA Players of the Week for CVCC men's basketball (all-time)
Jordan Powell, forward - Dec. 10-16, 2018
Shad Thomas, forward - Nov. 22-28, 2021
Shad Thomas, forward - Jan. 18-24, 2023
Zion Dixon, guard - Nov. 6-12, 2024