Branden Dawson
![]() Dawson playing for Michigan State in the 2011 Carrier Classic. | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | February 1, 1993 |
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Lew Wallace (Gary, Indiana) |
College | Michigan State (2011–2015) |
NBA draft | 2015: 2nd round, 56th overall pick |
Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans | |
Playing career | 2015–present |
Position | Small forward / Power forward |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Branden Dawson (born February 1, 1993) is an American professional basketball player who recently completed his college career for the Michigan State Spartans. A native of Gary, Indiana, he played for Lew Wallace High School. Upon graduation from high school, he enrolled in Michigan State to play for the Spartans. In his senior season, he helped his team reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
High school career
Dawson played high school basketball for Lew Wallace, under coach Renaldo Thomas.[1] He had to sit out most of his freshman season, being academically inelligible.[1] Dawson was selected for the 2011 McDonald's All-American Boys Game following his senior year.[2]
College career
Following interest from several schools, receiving offers from Purdue, Indiana, UCLA, Georgetown and Marquette among others, Dawson verbally committed to Michigan State in August 2010.[3][4] He had 15 points and 9 rebounds in his first game for the Spartans, an exhibition 85–57 win against Ferris State.[5][6] Dawson scored 10 points in his competitive debut for Michigan State, a 67–55 loss to North Carolina in the 2011 Carrier Classic.[7][8] He scored a season high 16 points on two occasions, against UMKC and Minnesota.[9][10][11][12] His freshman season came to an end after he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament, in a game against Ohio State.[13][14] He still managed to average 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a freshman, and improved to 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a junior.[15]
In January 2014, Dawson broke his right hand, after slamming it on a table during a film session.[16][17] He posted averages11.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.3 minutes per game during his junior season.[15] As a senior, he was named second team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team.[18] In 35 games as a senior, Dawson averaged 11.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.[15] He led Michigan State to the Final Four as a senior, where they lost to Duke. “This is the main reason why I chose Michigan State,” Dawson said. “It was to be part of championships and Final Fours. It means a lot what has happened over my four years here. I’m never going to forget Michigan State.”[19]
During his four-year career at Michigan State Dawson played in 130 games. starting in 121 of them. He averaged 26.6 minutes a game. He averaged 10.1 points a game, and 6.9 Rebounds a game. Throughout his four-year career, Dawson never made a three-point shot in nine attempts.[20] At the time of his graduation, Dawson was Michigan State's all-time leader in blocked shots, with 142.[21]
Professional career
On June 25, 2015, Dawson was picked by the New Orleans Pelicans 56th overall in the 2015 NBA draft, only to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations.[22]
Personal
Dawson was born on February 1, 1993 to Leon Albritton and Cassandra Dawson.[15][23] On 30 March 2010, while a junior at high school, Dawson became a father, to a son named My'Shawn.[24][25] Dawson received a degree in sociology from Michigan State University.[26]
References
- ^ a b Hanlon, Steve (November 20, 2009). "Lew Wallace's Branden Dawson is a nationally ranked recruit". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Moll, Allen (February 15, 2011). "2011 McDonald's All American Rosters Announced". The Hoop Doctors. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ "Welcome Aboard: Branden Dawson". SB★NATION. August 4, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Biggers, Adam (August 4, 2010). "Branden Dawson Commits to Michigan State". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "And So It Begins: Michigan State 85 - Ferris State 58". SB★NATION. November 1, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Spartans Top Ferris State, 85-58, In Exhibition Opener". Michigan State Athletics. October 30, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "MSU Falls To No.1 UNC In Carrier Classic, 67-55". Michigan State Athletics. November 11, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "UNC basketball beats Michigan State aboard aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson with President Barack Obama in attendance". Daily News (New York). November 11, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "No. 19 Spartans Make It Ten Straight, Rout UMKC 89-54". Michigan State Athletics. December 19, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ Howell, Brandon (December 20, 2011). "Branden Dawson leads Spartans to 89-54 rout of Missouri-Kansas City". mlive.com. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Coach Izzo gets his 400th win". Michigan State Athletics. January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "No. 10 Michigan St. tops Minnesota 68-52 for Izzo's 400th". Chicago Tribune. January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ Katz, Andy (March 5, 2012). "Branden Dawson has torn ACL". ESPN. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Tjarks, Jonathan (March 4, 2012). "Branden Dawson Injury: Torn ACL Will End Michigan State Freshman's Season". SB★NATION. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Branden Dawson Bio". Michigan State Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Rexrode, Joe (January 24, 2014). "Michigan State's Branden Dawson out with broken bone in right hand". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Van Stratt, Gillian (January 23, 2014). "Michigan State's Branden Dawson breaks bone in hand, out 4-to-5 weeks". mlive.com. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Austin, Kyle (March 9, 2015). "Three Michigan State players named All-Big Ten; Branden Dawson named second-team, all-defensive team". mlive.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Oren, Paul (April 5, 2015). "NBA Draft is next step for Lew Wallace grad Branden Dawson". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "2014–15 Individual Career History". Michigan State Athletics. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ Couch, Graham (April 9, 2015). "Valentine, Trice, Dawson belong in MSU's top 50". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ "CLIPPERS ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO BRANDEN DAWSON". NBA.com. June 25, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Leung, Diamond (February 18, 2012). "Michigan State's Branden Dawson has matured thanks to family in Gary and East Lansing". mlive.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Leung, Diamond (February 8, 2013). "Michigan State's Branden Dawson challenged with balancing basketball, fatherhood". mlive.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ Rexrode, Joe (March 1, 2015). "MSU's Dawson finds motivation in role as father". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Mayo, David (May 15, 2015). "For ex-MSU standout Branden Dawson, NBA Draft Combine invitation was a godsend". mlive.com. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1993 births
- Living people
- African-American basketball players
- Basketball players at the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Final Four
- Basketball players from Indiana
- McDonald's High School All-Americans
- Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players
- New Orleans Pelicans draft picks
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Gary, Indiana