Hunter Ryan Dickinson Bio
Hunter Ryan Dickinson is an American professional basketball player who currently serves as a center for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dickinson signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans in June 2025, placing him on the NBA roster while also allowing him to develop his game with the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. Before beginning his professional career, Dickinson established himself as one of college basketball’s most accomplished players, earning consensus All-American honors at two different schools. He played four seasons of college basketball across two programs, collecting numerous conference and national awards while leading both Michigan and Kansas in scoring and rebounding during his tenure.
Early Life and Background
Dickinson was born on November 25, 2000, in Alexandria, Virginia, to Kathy and Tim Dickinson. His family has a strong athletic background. His mother, Kathy, played collegiate volleyball for Niagara University. His father, Tim, competed in baseball at Buffalo State University. Dickinson grew up as a fan of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He has three brothers: Ben, Grant, and Jason. His older brother Ben played college basketball for Binghamton, Loyola Marymount, and UNC Greensboro at the NCAA Division I level. Grant also pursued basketball at the collegiate level.
Path to Basketball
Dickinson attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he developed into one of the nation’s top prospects. By the time he was a sophomore, he had grown to 7 feet 1 inch tall. During his junior year, Dickinson averaged 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. He helped lead DeMatha to consecutive Maryland private-school championships and earned tournament MVP honors. As a senior, he averaged 18.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while guiding his team to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title. Dickinson earned 2020 All-Met Player of the Year and WCAC Player of the Year honors. He was also named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic, though the event was canceled due to the pandemic. He was rated as a consensus four-star recruit and the second-best player from Maryland in the class of 2020.
In December 2019, Dickinson publicly committed to play for the University of Michigan over offers from Duke, Florida State, and Notre Dame. He cited his relationship with head coach Juwan Howard and Michigan’s strength and conditioning program as primary factors in his decision. He signed his National Letter of Intent with Michigan in April 2020, ranked 32nd overall and sixth among centers by 247Sports.
Hunter Ryan Dickinson Career
Michigan Wolverines (2020–2023)
Dickinson debuted for Michigan on November 25, 2020, scoring 11 points and collecting eight rebounds in a win against Bowling Green. He quickly established himself as a dominant force, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors seven times during the season, the second-most in conference history at that time. He recorded five double-doubles and led the Wolverines in scoring (14.1 points per game), rebounding (7.4 per game), and field goal percentage. Dickinson helped Michigan capture the 2020–21 Big Ten regular season championship, earning the team a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to UCLA. For the season, Dickinson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten by the media, and a consensus second-team All-American. He became Michigan’s first consensus All-American since Nik Stauskas in 2014.
As a sophomore during the 2021–22 season, Dickinson averaged 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while repeating as Michigan’s leader in both categories. He posted a career-high 33 points against Michigan State in March 2022. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Michigan received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a #11 seed and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Colorado State and Tennessee along the way. Dickinson was named Academic All-Big Ten and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection with a 3.32 GPA.
During his junior season (2022–23), Dickinson averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He became the 22nd Wolverine to score 1,500 career points and the ninth to surpass 750 rebounds. He led Michigan in scoring and rebounding for a third consecutive season and earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition from the media. On March 31, 2023, Dickinson entered the NCAA transfer portal, stating his intention to graduate from Michigan while pursuing new opportunities.
Kansas Jayhawks (2023–2025)
Dickinson committed to Kansas on May 4, 2023, becoming the top-rated player in the transfer portal. He immediately became Kansas’s centerpiece, earning Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason Newcomer of the Year honors. He was also named to the Associated Press preseason All-American team. During the 2023–24 season, Dickinson was the conference’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer. He posted a 27-point, 21-rebound performance against Kentucky and became the first player in Big 12 history to record 25+ points and 20+ rebounds against a ranked opponent in conference play. He earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Big 12 recognition. Dickinson was named a consensus second-team All-American, becoming the first men’s basketball player to earn consensus All-American recognition at two different schools. He helped lead Kansas to a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament, recording 19 points and 20 rebounds in the first-round win over Samford.
Dickinson returned to Kansas for a fifth season in 2024–25, repeating as Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year and earning another Associated Press preseason All-American selection. He opened the season with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance against ninth-ranked North Carolina and followed with another double-double against Michigan State. During the season, he posted a 21-point, 14-rebound, 8-assist game against NC State without committing a turnover, a statistical achievement not seen in Division I basketball since 1996–97. Dickinson matched his career high with 33 points against 24th-ranked Arizona in the regular-season finale. He earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition and third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association. His collegiate career ended with 11 points and 9 rebounds in Kansas’s first-round NCAA tournament loss to Arkansas.
New Orleans Pelicans (2025–Present)
Despite being undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Dickinson signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on June 27, 2025. The contract carried a salary of $636,000 for the season. He participated in the NBA Summer League with the Pelicans, averaging 6.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across four games. Dickinson made his NBA debut during the Pelicans’ season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies in October 2025. He also made his NBA G League debut with the Birmingham Squadron in November 2025, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the season opener against the Austin Spurs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Dickinson is a 7-foot-1 center known for his exceptional scoring and rebounding ability. He possesses a soft touch around the basket and has demonstrated the ability to stretch the floor, shooting over 40 percent from three-point range during his senior year of high school. His basketball IQ and passing ability have been highlighted, including an 8-assist, 0-turnover performance in a game against NC State. Dickinson has shown the ability to dominate in the paint while also contributing to perimeter offense. His rebounding prowess has translated throughout his career, leading both the Big 12 and his conference in rebounds during multiple seasons. Despite concerns about his footspeed at the professional level, his size, skill, and basketball instincts have allowed him to consistently produce at a high level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dickinson’s career has been defined by historic achievements. He became the first men’s basketball player to earn consensus All-American recognition at two different schools, accomplishing this milestone at Michigan in 2021 and Kansas in 2024. He ranks among the all-time leaders at both programs in scoring and rebounding. During his G League rookie season, he broke the Birmingham Squadron single-game rebound record with 24 rebounds, then surpassed his own record with 27 rebounds in a subsequent game. He was selected to the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game presented by AT&T after averaging 16.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with the Squadron. Dickinson also recorded a 34-point, 27-rebound performance with Birmingham, demonstrating his continued ability to dominate at the G League level.
Hunter Ryan Dickinson Career Achievements
Dickinson accumulated an impressive array of collegiate honors across five seasons and two programs. He earned consensus second-team All-American recognition twice (2021, 2024), third-team All-American honors in 2025, and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024 and 2025. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021. Dickinson was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team recognition in 2022.
Career Statistics Highlights
Across his four seasons at Michigan, Dickinson played 94 games and averaged 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. He became the fourth Wolverine to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding multiple times. At Kansas, he became the 17th consensus All-American for head coach Bill Self and finished his career ranking among the school’s all-time greats. His professional career began with the Birmingham Squadron, where he posted multiple double-doubles and set franchise rebound records while earning NBA G League Next Up Game selection.
Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dickinson comes from a family with deep athletic roots. His mother, Kathy Dickinson, played volleyball at Niagara University. His father, Tim Dickinson, competed in collegiate baseball at Buffalo State University. Dickinson grew up in the Buffalo area and remains a fan of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He has three brothers, all of whom pursued basketball careers. His older brother Ben played at the NCAA Division I level for Binghamton, Loyola Marymount, and UNC Greensboro, earning America East All-Rookie Team honors in 2011–12. Another brother, Grant, also played collegiate basketball at Concord University and Mount Olive.
Personal Life
Dickinson maintained a strong academic record throughout his college career, earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2022 and 2023 with a GPA above 3.3. He leveraged his name, image, and likeness during his college years, securing sponsorship deals with Wendy’s, Adidas, Lowe’s, Ritz Crackers, and Outback Steakhouse. His NIL earnings were estimated at nearly $600,000 during his final season at Kansas. Dickinson has demonstrated an engaging personality, even poking fun at his draft prospects in a LinkedIn advertisement. He hosts a podcast with Barstool Sports personalities Marty Mush and Jordan Bohannon.
2025 Season Performance
Dickinson began his professional career in 2025 after going undrafted in the NBA Draft despite a decorated college career. He signed with the New Orleans Pelicans and participated in their Summer League roster, facing the typical adjustment period for undrafted players transitioning to the NBA level. His summer performance showed promise in certain areas while highlighting the continued development needed in his footspeed, a common concern for traditional centers at the professional level. He made his NBA debut early in the season and was active on both the NBA and G League rosters due to his two-way contract status.
With the Birmingham Squadron, Dickinson quickly demonstrated his dominance at the G League level. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists through his first 19 games with the team. His rebounding excellence was particularly evident, as he set and then broke the franchise’s single-game rebound record. He was selected for the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game, recognizing his strong start to his professional career. The 2025–26 season represents Dickinson’s rookie professional year, with opportunities ahead to establish himself as a rotation player at the NBA level while continuing to develop with the Squadron.