Calvert Hall shooting guard Juan Dixon is expected to give an oral commitment today to the University of Maryland, Calvert Hall coach Mark Amatucci said yesterday.
Dixon, a 6-foot-2 1/2 , 175-pound guard, chose the Terrapins over Providence, which he visited last weekend. Dixon will be the first Calvert Hall basketball player to go to an Atlantic Coast Conference school since Duane Ferrell left Georgia Tech in 1988.
"The biggest factor is that he's staying close to home," said Amatucci. "[Coach] Gary [Williams] did a great job on the home visit. They talked about academics, the graduation rate -- it wasn't just about basketball."
Dixon, a first-team all-metro pick, averaged 21.9 points as a junior at Calvert Hall, shooting 47 percent from the field.
Asked about Dixon's ability to shoot from the outside, Amatuccisaid, "He shoots threes like guys dunk."
New York recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski said: "He's one of the best shooters in his class. He's not as good at getting his shot off as some guys yet, but if you get him open shots, he's going to hit them. He's got to get a lot stronger."
Pub Date: 10/02/96
