Dawson Garcia will suit up for North Carolina basketball in the 2021-22 season. The former Marquette big man will transfer to UNC, in what is a major addition for Hubert Davis.
A top-40 prospect in the 2020 class, Garcia averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during his freshman season, while shooting 35.6 percent on his 3-point attempts (26-of-73 3PA).
Garcia raises both the floor and ceiling for North Carolina; the 6-foot-10 lefty will enter the season as a candidate for ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Prior to his UNC commitment, Garcia tested the 2021 NBA Draft waters; he played well at the G League Elite Camp, too, but didn’t receive a draft combine invite.
Marquette transfer Dawson Garcia told @Stadium he is headed to Chapel Hill and will play for UNC this season.
HUGE pickup for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 8, 2021
Back on June 25, Garcia entered the NCAA transfer portal. He quickly became a prime target for UNC, Illinois, Arizona, Minnesota and Arizona State. However, North Carolina won out in the end for Garcia.
The fit between Armando Bacot and Garcia has wonderful offensive potential. Garcia can play inside and out on offense, while also working as a dribble-handoff hub. On the defensive side of the floor, he’s solid guarding in space, too.
It’s logical to assume that Garcia will start as the team’s de facto power forward. Bacot remains at center, while Oklahoma transfer Brady Manek becomes a super-sub off the bench — as a stretch-4/5. Around the Bacot-Garcia frontcourt, UNC can slot Caleb Love, Kerwin Walton and Leaky Black.
When Bacot sits, the Garcia-Manek frontcourt will be able to open the floor for true 5-out basketball. This should open up gaps for Love, Black and RJ Davis.
During the 2021-22 season, Garcia was one of 18 high-major players to post an 8.0 percent offensive rebound rate, 15 percent defensive rebound rate and to shoot above 30 percent from beyond the arc (50+ 3PA).
In a fun little twist of fate, Garcia will now get to matchup with his former Marquette teammate Theo John in the UNC-Duke rivalry. John committed to Duke back in April.
Read More on Dawson Garcia and UNC Basketball
Deep Dive: An in-depth look at how Garcia fits with North Carolina