CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team announced the signing of Leonard Dixon (G/F, 6-7 200, Damascus, Ore./Mount Hood Community College) to a National Letter of Intent. Dixon joins Morgan Carter (F/C, 6-7 215, Porthcawl, Wales/Hillsborough Community College), Rafael Carton (F, 6-7 230, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), Georges Darwiche (G, 6-1 188, Bucharest, Romania/Siena College) and Hunter Lyman (F/C, 6-8 215, West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo H.S.) as signees for the Golden Eagles.

"I've been following Leonard for quite some time," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "I've had very good talks with him, and his coach Nate Bowie. When we got him on his visit, it was right before everything was getting shut down due to Covid-19. He was able to meet a few of our guys and it is just a great fit. Leonard will bring versatility, as he can play multiple positions for us. He has great size and the ability to shoot and handle the ball. He will be able to play inside and out, and will help us rebound the ball. I really love his team-first mindset and what he brings to the table inside and out."

"I chose Minnesota Crookston because Coach Weisse made it feel like home right when I got there on my visit," Dixon said. "I love the direction the program is going with the returners that are coming back and with the guys that are coming in. Also, I think Minnesota Crookston provides me a great opportunity to get my degree and also work on my craft on the court. Minnesota Crookston has all the resources to make me become a better student and man on and off the court. It was a done deal as soon as I got back home from my visit."

Dixon gives the Golden Eagles outside shooting and length, and the ability to rebound at a variety of positions. He will primarily play on the wing and at the four, joining a group that brings back Ibu Jassey-Demba (Sr., F, 6-7 200, Birmingham, England/Monroe College (N.Y.) and Quintin Winterfeldt (So., G/F, 6-4 195, Waupun, Wis./Waupun H.S.). Fellow signee Carton also adds to the position group for the Golden Eagles.

Dixon is the first junior college signee for Minnesota Crookston for the 2020-21 recruiting class. He is the first player from the state of Oregon for the Golden Eagles since Tyler West, Jr. (Portland, Ore.), who graduated in 2015. West, Jr., was part of Coach Weisse's first team at Minnesota Crookston during the 2014-15 season.

"Leonard is an individual that is intriguing because of how selfless and coachable he is as a person," said Dixon's former junior college coach Nate Bowie. "Leonard has good size and length and can effortlessly shoot over defenders. He is a threat to score anywhere on the floor. He also has a knack in knowing where the ball is and picking up a lot of steals throughout the game. All the excitement around Leonard is well deserved and we are looking forward to following him on his transition to the next level."

Minnesota Crookston is looking to build on their best three-year stretch in program history, as they have won 10 or more games in each of the last three seasons. The Golden Eagles had their best season in 2018-19 with a program-record 17 wins, and the program's first-ever trip to the Sanford Pentagon for the NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals after a win over nationally-renowned program Augustana University. The Golden Eagles have a strong core returning that they are looking to supplement in recruiting.

The student-athlete listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to play men's basketball at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.

Leonard Dixon (F, 6-7 200, Damascus, Ore./Mount Hood Community College)
Dixon comes to Minnesota Crookston from Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. Dixon was named a NWAC All-Southern Region First Team selection during his sophomore season. He was the leading scorer for the Saints during the 2019-20 season, tallying 19.3 points per game. Dixon shot 43.6 percent from behind the three-point line and 82.4 percent from the foul line. He added 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Dixon notched a season-high 39 points on 15-of-21 from the field, and 9-of-13 from beyond the arc against Chemeketa Community College. He had 34 points on 10-of-19 from the field, and 5-of-11 from behind the three-point line against Portland Community College. As a freshman, Dixon started 14 games and played in 26. He notched 10.0 points per game and shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. Dixon added 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per tilt. He tallied 22 points in his first-ever collegiate game at Everett Community College. Dixon competed as a prep for Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Ore. 

Dixon plans to major in sports and recreation management at Minnesota Crookston. He was born Nov. 25, 1999.