Washington Huskies: Why Did Noah Dickerson Reverse his Decision?
By Paul Taylor
It’s understandably good news that Noah Dickerson is remaining with the Washington Huskies, but what changed his mind?
After all the upheaval the Washington Huskies have suffered recently, they received some welcome news last Friday. As reported by Percy Allen of The Seattle Times, Noah Dickerson has decided to stay with the team.
After Lorenzo Romar was fired back in March, Dickerson declared his intention to pursue a transfer to another program. This process included visiting Virginia and Louisiana State.
However, the Atlanta, Georgia native changed his mind and decided to stay with the Huskies. Taking to his Twitter account, he wrote:
"“I came here 2 years ago with a class that was committed to get UW back to the top and I’m going to stay dedicated to that commitment. I am excited to be back with my teammates and for this new chapter with Coach Hopkins and his staff.”"
One of the best signs about this decision, is Mike Hopkins’ impact. Already, the new Huskies’ coach is showing the influence he is capable of having on the team.
This represents a big coup for the Huskies, as Dickerson was their leading rebounder last season, averaging 8.2 boards per contest. However, he was also their third-leading scorer, after averaging 12.5 points.
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Perhaps just as significant, is how the four star recruit stepped up, after Markelle Fultz missed the final four games of the season. As noted by UW Dawg Pound, he averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The importance of this can’t be underestimated, with Fultz unsurprisingly declaring for the NBA draft after just one season with the Huskies. Of course, it will now be up to Hopkins to get Dickerson to reproduce this type of form on a more regular basis.
It is obviously disappointing that number one overall recruit Michael Porter Jr. and most of the Huskies’ highly touted incoming class decided to go elsewhere. However, in the grand scheme of things, it could have been even worse.
When Romar was first fired, speculation was rife that a whole host of players from last season’s roster would look to transfer elsewhere. As things stand though, only Matthew Atewe will leave.
Overall, the 2017-17 campaign is still expected to be a challenge for the Huskies. However, Dickerson’s decision to stay should at least put Hopkins in a slightly better position to field a competitive team.
Next: Mike Hopkins Brings in Impressive Work Ethic
Obviously with Fultz leaving and Porter Jr. no longer coming, the Huskies face a difficult challenge next season. What kind of campaign are you expecting from the Dawgs and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.