When describing junior college transfer Nat Dixon recently, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball coach Matt McCall said the 6-foot-5 sophomore is "arguably the best athlete on the team."
While that may very well be true, Dixon is simply trying to find his place on the team in his first season.
Dixon, who started his collegiate athletic career as a wide receiver at Boston College, decided after a season to follow his passion and play basketball. He ended up at East Mississippi Community College, where he started 28 of 29 games and averaged 12 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and a team-high 1.3 steals a game. He had 20 double-digit scoring games.
Not bad for his return to basketball, but scoring always has come naturally to him: He led the state of Florida with 28.5 points a game as a Mosely High School junior in Panama City, but he ended his senior season prematurely to focus on his football recruiting.
He had 1,005 yards receiving on 43 catches with eight touchdowns as a senior and earned all-state honors in both basketball and football in 2013.
"In the beginning, the transition was tough," Dixon said, "but Coach (Peter) Gash and Coach McCall really worked with me on individual and skill development and get me back to where I need to be where I'm ready for the season."
McCall said Dixon can guard four positions on the court and will be a "force to be reckoned with" in the press.
"We've got to keep things in perspective, though," McCall said. "It's only his second year playing basketball, but he does bring the mentality of a winner. He makes winning plays, has no regard for his body - stepping in to take charges, going to be offensive backboard.
"I don't know if you can find a guy on a straight-line drive that can elevate like he can."
On a team with seniors Casey Jones, Tre' McLean and Johnathan Burroughs-Cook - superior athletes in their own right - the "best athlete" statement is no small one. But Dixon is making the transition to playing just basketball, and while he loves the sport, he brought some intangible qualities from the first Division I sport he played, and at a high level.
"I just want to bring intensity and play hard every play I'm out there," Dixon said. "Even when I'm on the bench, I want to be all-around, keeping spirits up. If there is a loose ball on the floor, I'll get it. If somebody needs a water bottle, I'll get that, too.
"I think I bring a physicality and a toughness to the game, but I just want to fit it on the team, help the team win and help us get back to the (NCAA) tournament."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.