Dion A Dual Star For Bulldogs
Dion Novil was less than excited about moving from sunny Florida to dusty Abilene two years ago.
Now he knows that God was putting him in the right place at the right time.
“Now I see that it is the best thing that could have ever happened to us,” says the Wylie senior. “I couldn’t have asked for a better school and a better community.”
The move also worked out really well for Wylie, as both Dion and his brother, Josh, who graduated last year, proved to be a star athletes, earning all-district honors in both football and basketball.
Dion will be wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks this fall as a defensive end for the Bulldogs. He excelled in that role last year, winning 1st Team All-District honors and honorable mention All-State honors. He also hopes to get some reps at tight end for the offense.
When football is over, hopefully in late, late December, he will move directly into basketball.
Don’t ask him to pick a favorite between the two sports.
“I fell in love with both basketball and football,” he said. “I equally love both the games honestly.”
Dion said most people tell him they think he is better at basketball – he has been the district MVP the last two years – but he thinks his college chances might be better in football.
“I get more recognition for basketball because there are not as many guys on the court,” he said. “It’s hard to say which one I am better at. I have a better chance at playing football if I want to play college sports. I don’t have the height to play college basketball.”
Dion grew up in West Palm Beach playing sports in the backyard with his five brothers. Being the fifth of six boys meant he was always competing growing up.
“That helped me and my other brothers in sports,” he said. “We always liked to compete against each other and push each other. I consider it a blessing to have so many brothers.”
He started playing organized basketball about 6th grade but didn’t start football until he was a freshman. Then, right before his sophomore year, his mother, Donna, decided to accept a job in Abilene.
Dion started that year on the Wylie JV but moved up to varsity by midseason. That gave him a unique opportunity to play on the same team as his older brother, Josh, who was a Wylie junior.
“That was actually really cool,” Dion said. “We put in so much hard work when we were younger, but we didn’t get to play together because of the age difference.”
Josh also played both football and basketball, so the brothers got to play together on both teams for two years. Dion said that was really special.
“We were definitely competitive but it was all brotherly love,” he said. “All we wanted was just to see each other succeed. We were always there for each other.”
Dion also has a younger brother, Isaiah, who is in 8th-grade at Wylie and loves basketball.
“He’s really good at sports, and I take full credit for that,” Dion said. “He would see me and Josh play. He just always wanted to be like us. He’s grown to love basketball.”
Dion gives his mother a lot of credit for the boys’ successes.
“She’s one of the most hard working women I’ve ever met,” he said. “She raised six boys all on her own and has always been there for us.”
When Dion is not playing basketball, he likes working out and playing video games. But playing football and basketball keeps him busy most of the year, and right now, he’s focused in on football and is excited that the season is under way.
“We’ve been working hard the whole off-season,” he said. “The team is looking great.”
And so is his mom’s decision to move him to Abilene, Texas.
“It’s definitely a blessing to come to such a great school,” he said. “I just love being a Wylie Bulldog.”