Just Like That

Career flies by for senior Noah Dickerson // By Mason Kelley

By Washington Huskies

February 22^nd, 2019

Noah Dickerson sat on the back of a golf cart heading up to campus. The senior talked about the realization that the academic portion of his college career was coming to a close.

“Tomorrow I’ll take the second to last midterm I’ll ever take in my life,” he said.

The communications major is closing in on his degree. He is already working on the final classes he will take before he graduates. And, for Dickerson, that’s something to celebrate.

“I’m glad I’m getting my degree in something I want,” he said. “I can do a lot with that.”

But, when asked where his communications degree will lead him in the future, he smiled.

“Basketball,” he said.

Dickerson has spent his time at Washington pursuing the game he loves like a second degree and, with school in order, he has plenty of time to focus on a strong finish to his final season on with the Huskies.

“This is the last go-round, so I’m trying to have as much fun as I can,” he said.

The realization that his college career is nearing its end hit him over the summer. And the understanding that change comes quickly put everything he’s accomplished to this point in perspective.

“I’ve been doing this all these years just for fun, for free, just because I loved to play and it provided a free education,” he said.

His plan is to eventually turn basketball into his full-time job. But that’s something to save for the end of the season.

“It comes quick,” he said. “When you’re a freshman, you’re like, I’ve got four years of this. It’s going to take forever. But it goes by just like that.”

When Dickerson looks back over his first three-plus years, he said the memories “clash all together.”

Teammates have come in and moved on, some for the NBA after just one season. There was a coaching change. And then there was everything that happens over the course of a career.

But, for Dickerson, that’s just part of the experience.

“You’ve got to be able to adapt to things, adapt to things on the fly,” he said. “It’s all about adapting to new things, because life always throws curveballs at you. You’ve got to be able to take what it gives you.”

Dickerson’s experience in the post has aided in the development of freshmen big men Bryan Penn-Johnson and Nate Roberts. But, while Dickerson wanted to help his teammates, he also took advantage of the daily practice battles in the paint.

“It helps me with finishing over size and length,” he said. “I’ve never had a problem with it, but that’s something people say they want to see from me. I go at it every day, so it helps me out.”

When Dickerson arrived at Washington he had a dream to play in the NCAA tournament. He wanted to represent the Huskies on college basketball’s biggest stage. So far, though, that dream has remained just that. His focus is fixed on taking one final step forward.

“I always wanted to be there,” he said.

Since he’s been at Washington, he hasn’t paid much attention to the tournament. He would catch a game if it happened to be on TV, but he didn’t seek it out. He was too frustrated to focus on other teams playing deep into March. He doesn’t plan on having that problem when this season wraps up.

“I’ve never been to the NCAA tournament,” he said. “If I get there, I’m going out with a bang.”

For Dickerson, this is it. One more chance to make the tournament. One final opportunity to compete with his teammates. So, with the season getting shorter by the day, Dickerson plans to enjoy every opportunity. Like he said, his plan is to make an extended postseason run while having as much fun as possible along the way.