Arizona announced that North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon and Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit have signed for 2026-27, officially putting them in the Wildcats' backcourt next season.
Terms were not announced and are not public record.
Derek Dixon has officially signed 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L2rS29TyKy
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) April 16, 2026
JJ Mandaquit has officially signed 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PXCD5IHbdA
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) April 16, 2026
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Dixon committed to the Wildcats on Monday after visiting Arizona, at nearly the same time as Mandaquit.
Averaging 6.5 points and 2.7 assists while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range last season, Dixon took over as the Tar Heels' starting point guard in midseason. He wound up starting 16 of 33 games played, averaging 22.3 minutes per game.
North Carolina guard Derek Dixon celebrates after scoring during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against VCU March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C.
Averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 assists for the Huskies, Mandaquit won three gold medals while playing with incoming UA freshman Caleb Holt, UA forward Koa Peat and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa on USA teams the past three summers. He first won gold in the 2023 U16 Americas Championship, then at the 2024 U17 World Cup and on the Tommy Lloyd-coached U19 World Cup team last summer.
The additions of Dixon and Mandaquit leave Arizona with eight projected scholarship players as of now, with their biggest remaining needs at power forward and center.
Arizona’s spring roster transition
As of Thursday, April 16
Tentative returners
Ivan Kharchenkov | 6-7 | 230 | sophomore
Motiejus Krivas | 7-2 | 260 | senior
Mabil Mawut | 6-11 | 200 | R-freshman
Bryce James | 6-5 | 185 | R-freshman
Newcomers
Caleb Holt | 6-5 | 200 | freshman
Cameron Holmes | 6-6 | 205 | freshman
Derek Dixon | 6-5 | 200 | sophomore
JJ Mandaquit | 6-1 | 201 | sophomore
Expected departures
Jaden Bradley | 6-3 | 205 (declared for NBA Draft)
Tobe Awaka | 6-9 | 250 (out of eligibility*)
Anthony Dell’Orso | 6-6 | 190 (out of eligibility*)
Brayden Burries | 6-4 | 190 (expected NBA departure)
Koa Peat | 6-8 | 235 (expected NBA departure)
Dwayne Aristode | 6-8 | 215 | (in transfer portal)
Sidi Gueye | 6-11 | 215 | (in transfer portal)
Evan Nelson | 6-2 | 170 (out of eligibility)
* = Under current rules. (Nelson is also out of eligibility under a proposed new rule since his five-year window is up).
R = Redshirted in 2025-26
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
Arizona's Tommy Lloyd aiming for consistent success on a fast-changing playing field
