Washington Huskies Noah Dickerson Stays!

Washington Huskies forward Noah Dickerson Stays!

The University of Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball Team is already clawing its way back to national significance.  After all, coaching changes tend to rock even the most stable programs.  But the trajectory of the Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball program was a tale of two paths: increasing talent but decreasing results.  6-foot-8 forward Noah Dickerson was caught in the middle.

Throughout the season, Dickerson played hard. As the season toughened, he become better. He averaged nearly 23 points and nine rebounds a game in March 2016. Ultimately, he trailed just Markelle Fultz and David Crisp in team scoring for the season.

When a coaching change happened at Washington, Huskies players took it hard.  And so, as individuals focused on what that mean to their own future, players lost track of one of the greatest lessons former coach Lorenzo Romar had tried to teach. Each player is an integral member of something far greater, a team.

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Fork In the Road

On one hand, some never learned that message.  On the other hand, some recognized it right away.  Finally, some weighed the matter carefully, but remembered that lesson in the end.

Noah Dickerson has decided to stay with the University of Washington.

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Devils in Detail

Compound Optimism

This news is great for the program, but even more so for the player.  For the team, this news now anchors three bigs to the team in the form of 6-foot-10 Sam Timmins, 6-foot-8 Devenir Durruisseau, and 6-foot-8 Noah Dickerson. Of the group, Dickerson is the more experienced.

But there is far more to the matter than simply tall bodies.  Noah Dickerson is a gifted young man whose production on the basketball court emerged in the 2016-2017 season. In fact, his presence grew as the team leaned ever more heavily upon his play.  He had a 23 point outburst early in the season, which foreshadowed his late season production.

It was that early outburst that set the stage for his production when teammate Markelle Fultz suffered a knee injury and had to sit out the final games of the season. Check out Dickerson’s enthusiasm in this interview.

Plenty of Work Ahead

Noah Dickerson is not “there” yet. He has a solid game in the paint, and runs excellent pick and pops and pick and rolls. But the perimeter shot is in dire need of hard work over the next two seasons.

Dickerson has huge upside, and his work ethic was never a question.  Now, with his coaching staff committed to outplaying and outdeveloping other college programs (listen to Coach Hopkins PODCAST on Insider Podcast here).

Now, the pieces are set. The climb is ahead. There is a great deal of work ahead, and moments where decisions will be questioned. But this was the right decision.  Not because it benefits the Washington Huskies. But it give Noah Dickerson the biggest stage and opportunity to showcase his all.

Next: 3 Reasons Washington Huskies WBB Hiring Coach Jody Wynn Means Melancholy

I’d say “welcome back” here, but Noah Dickerson never left.  In the end, he had to weigh the decision of whether this was the right time to make a change.  But making a change is not the same thing as making a difference.  By staying, Noah Dickerson will make a huge difference.