Former Prior Lake and North Carolina forward Dawson Garcia announced his commitment to stay at home after visiting the Gophers men’s basketball team for a second time Monday.
The Gophers welcomed him to campus on Friday. Garcia and his family met with Minnesota coach Ben Johnson and his staff Monday afternoon. He announced his decision on Instagram.
He is the first former McDonald’s All-American with the program since Kris Humphries in 2004.
The 6-11 sophomore entered the transfer portal last week after averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 37.5% in 16 games this season for North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis, including 12 starts. had scored from the three-point area.
Garcia joins the Gophers’ frontcourt who brings back leading scorer and rebounder Jamison Battle, Parker Fox, Isaiah Sire and Treyton Thompson. Johnson also signed the state’s top senior big man, Pharrel Payne.
As a one-off transfer last year, Garcia didn’t sit out with North Carolina, but the Gophers need an NCAA-granted hardship waiver to get him immediately eligible to play in 2022-23.
In late January, Garcia left North Carolina and returned to Minnesota to support his family while struggling with COVID-19 troubles, which have included tragic losses in recent months.
“Dawson was unable to finish the season with us due to a number of family issues,” Davis said in a statement last week. “We understand his desire to move closer to home to continue caring for his family. The Carolina Basketball family wishes him every success in the future.”
Garcia’s last game with North Carolina was on January 22 at Wake Forest. The Tar Heels won 11 of their last 13 games at the end of the season and reached the NCAA championship game before losing to Kansas in New Orleans.
“Congratulations to the entire Tar Heel Nation on a great way to end the season!” Garcia tweeted last Wednesday. “After everything that has happened to my family over the past year, I have decided to stay very close to them. Thank you Tar Heel Nation for making me part of your family… all the best!”
Garcia, a four-star recruit at Prior Lake, signed with Marquette as a high school senior. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Golden Eagles in 2020-21 and led all Big East freshmen in both categories. He was also named to the All-Big East Freshman Team.
After former Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski was fired after a 13-14 season, Garcia opted for a move to North Carolina last summer.