Minnesota native Dawson Garcia is ready to return to his home state and don the Maroon and Gold. After stops at North Carolina and Marquette, the former Prior Lake prep standout will join the University of Minnesota men’s basketball program next season.
“We’re really excited to have Dawson join our program,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “I’ve known Dawson since he was in high school and I love the development of his game. He brings that competitive fight, has a warrior mentality and is a big time talent. Dawson has played high level basketball both at Marquette and North Carolina and shown great versatility. He can play both inside and out, can score, rebound and will bring a much-needed piece to our team.”
Garcia, a 6-11, 235 forward from Prior Lake, Minn., enters his Minnesota tenure with over 43 collegiate games played. Last year with the Tar Heels, Garcia saw action in 16 contests, including 12 starts where he averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds. He shot 40.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.
Prior to his time at UNC, Garcia played at Marquette in 2020-21. During his collegiate rookie season, Garcia started in all 27 games and averaged a team-best 13 points and 6.6 rebounds. Garcia scored double-digit points in 17 games with the Golden Eagles and led the Big East freshmen in scoring and rebounding, which ranked 13th and 11th overall. He was named Big East Freshman of the Week three times that year.
While at Prior Lake High School, Garcia was named a 2020 McDonald’s All-American and Mr. Basketball finalist. He scored 2,092 points during his Lakers career and earned first-team all-state, all-conference and all-metro honors as a senior. Garcia led PLHS to the Class 4A, Section 2 championship game as he averaged 27.5 ppg and the school’s first-ever sectional final as a Class 4A program.
Also a standout in the USA Basketball circuit, Garcia won a gold medal playing for Team USA and Most Valuable Player honors in the 2019 U-18 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia. He also was the MVP of the 2019 U-18 3×3 U.S. Championship.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)