Hornets sign 2025 NCAA scoring champ, but he faces uphill battle to make roster

Alex Kirschenbaum

Hornets sign 2025 NCAA scoring champ, but he faces uphill battle to make roster image

The Charlotte Hornets have inked the league's 2024-25 college scoring champion as their preseason rolls on — although he's facing an uphill battle to actually crack the club's roster this season.

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Per the Hornets' official PR account on X, the club has signed free agent former three-time All-Big East Villanova forward Eric Dixon to a new deal. Terms of the agreement have not been divulged, although it seems likely to contain Exhibit 10 language.

Ranked as the No. 44-best prospect on ESPN's pre-draft big board, the 6-foot-8 Dixon was instantly snatched up by the Los Angeles Lakers on what was expected to be a two-way deal, per Shams Charania of ESPN

LA's loss could be Charlotte's gain

But Dixon was struggling with a foot injury over the summer, and his deal ultimately became merely an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. He was later cut, per Law Murray of The Athletic.

Exhibit 10 signings can be converted into two-way contracts, although for now all three of the Hornets' such slots are occupied. From there, in theory, a two-way player could be promoted to a club's standard 15-man roster.

Alternately, Dixon could be waived before the start of the season and link up with Charlotte's G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. 

Should Dixon stick with the Swarm for at least 60 days, he could net a bonus for as much as $85,300.

Dixon redshirted his 2019-20 freshman season, and only fully blossomed during his 2024-25 senior campaign. An Associated Press and NABC All-American Third Teamer, Dixon averaged a college-best 23.3 points for the Wildcats while slashing .451/.407/.813 shooting splits, plus 5.1 boards, 1.9 assists and 0.8 steals per.

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Alex Kirschenbaum

Alex Kirschenbaum is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He grew up a devout Bulls fan, but his hoops fanaticism now extends to non-Bulls teams in adulthood. Currently also a scribe for Hoops Rumors, Sports Illustrated's On SI fan sites Newsweek and "Small Soldiers" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others