College basketball moves fast. One day you’re the heartbeat of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and the next, you’re pulling on a Bluejay jersey in Omaha. That’s basically the reality for Josh Dix, the 6-foot-6 guard who turned heads last season by becoming one of the most efficient scorers in the Big Ten.
When the Josh Dix transfer portal news first broke in March 2025, it wasn't just another name in a database. It was a signal that the era of Fran McCaffery at Iowa was truly over. Honestly, the timing felt like a gut punch to Hawkeye fans. McCaffery had just been dismissed, and almost immediately, the roster began to splinter. Dix, who had just finished a breakout junior campaign, was the biggest domino to fall.
The Numbers That Made Him a Portal Prize
Why was everyone obsessed with where he'd land? It’s pretty simple: the kid doesn't miss.
Last season, Dix averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Those are solid, but the efficiency is what’s actually wild. He shot 50.7% from the field, which was the highest mark for any guard in the Big Ten. He also knocked down 42.2% of his threes. In a world where coaches are desperate for "floor spacing," Dix is basically a walking cheat code.
He isn't just a shooter, though. He’s got this weirdly effective mid-range game that feels like a throwback. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame to shoot over smaller guards, and he rarely turns the ball over. We’re talking about an elite assist-to-turnover ratio that makes point coaches drool.
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Why Creighton? The "Coming Home" Factor
A lot of schools came calling. Indiana made a massive push. Illinois was in the mix. Kansas even kicked the tires. But for Dix, it wasn't just about NIL money or a bigger stage. It was about home.
Dix is a Council Bluffs native. If you aren't familiar with Iowa geography, Council Bluffs is literally right across the river from Omaha, Nebraska—the home of Creighton University. When he posted "Coming Home" on Instagram, he meant it. His mom has been dealing with health issues, and being 15 minutes away from family instead of several hours away in Iowa City changed everything.
He didn't go alone, either. Owen Freeman, the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year from a season ago and Dix's teammate at Iowa, also made the jump to Creighton. Greg McDermott basically pulled off a heist, snagging the two best young pieces of Iowa’s future in one weekend.
Impact on the 2025-26 Season
Creighton is losing some legends. Ryan Kalkbrenner is finally out of eligibility (it feels like he was there for a decade), and Steven Ashworth is gone too. The Bluejays needed a new identity, and Dix fits McDermott’s system like a glove.
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McDermott loves "positionless" players who can pass, dribble, and shoot. Dix can play the 1, 2, or 3. He’s going to be the guy that keeps the defense honest while new pieces like Nik Graves (Charlotte transfer) and Austin Swartz (Miami transfer) find their footing.
NBA Draft Buzz
People are starting to talk about Dix as a legitimate pro prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. Scouts love his "prototypical" size for a wing. He’s got a solid 205-pound frame and that 40%+ three-point shooting history that translates to any level.
The knock on him has always been his "lateral quickness." Is he fast enough to guard an NBA shooting guard? Maybe not yet. But his IQ is off the charts. He’s rarely out of position. If he has a massive year in the Big East—a league known for its physical, "grown-man" basketball—he could easily see his name called in the second round.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a narrative that Dix left Iowa because of a lack of NIL. While every player wants to get paid, that wasn't the driver here. The dismissal of Fran McCaffery broke the "brotherhood" that Dix talked about in his farewell post. When the coach who recruited you through a broken leg in high school is gone, the ties to the program naturally loosen.
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Also, don't assume he's just a "catch-and-shoot" guy. At Iowa, he was forced into more of a playmaking role late in the season, and he thrived. He dropped 31 points on Nebraska in January 2025, a game where he looked like the best player on the floor, bar none.
Practical Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Josh Dix transfer portal fallout, keep an eye on these specific things over the next few months:
- Watch the Creighton Rotation: See if McDermott starts Dix at the 2 or uses him as a point-forward. His assist numbers might spike in this system.
- Monitor the NBA Big Boards: Names like Adam Finkelstein and Kevin O'Connor will likely start moving Dix up their "Seniors to Watch" lists by mid-December.
- The Iowa Rebuild: Look at how new Iowa leadership tries to replace 14.4 points and 42% shooting. It's almost impossible to find that in one player.
- Schedule the Matchups: Mark the Creighton vs. Big East powerhouses (UConn, St. John's) on your calendar. Those are the games where Dix will either prove he’s a star or show he was a "system" player in the Big Ten.
The move to Omaha isn't just a change of scenery. It’s a homecoming for a kid who has already overcome a lot. Whether he ends up in the NBA or just finishes as a college legend, Josh Dix has officially shifted the power balance in the Midwest.