Friday, December 25, 2009

2011 UCLA SF target: Branden Dawson (Gary, IN)

Branden Dawson | SF

Hometown Gary, IN
High School Lew Wallace High School
Height 6'5"
Weight 190 lbs.

Earlier in the year, UCLA offered Dawson a scholarship for 2011. Other schools that had already offered scholies are Georgetown, Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue.



A couple more videos:
One from ESPN Recruiting, click here.
Another from hoosierscout.net, click here.

UCLA moves early in the year:

UCLA joins the mix for Dawson

* Lew Wallace standout also has offers from IU, Purdue and Arizona.

By David Robb
Post-Tribune staff writer
July 21, 2009

The scholarship Indiana coach Tom Crean offered Branden Dawson earlier this year came packaged with lofty praise.

"He called me a Dwyane Wade look-alike," Dawson said.

The effusive compliments -- and scholarship offers -- just keep pouring in for Lew Wallace's 6-foot-6 junior, whose recruiting stock has soared this summer on the national AAU circuit. Following an AAU tournament in Milwaukee on July 12, Dawson said he received offers from UCLA and Arizona.

"This summer's been great," said Dawson, who also participated in the LeBron James Skills Academy earlier this month. "I got my name out there."

Dawson is fast becoming one of the most coveted juniors in the country. Rivals.com now ranks him the 26th-best prospect in the nation in the Class of 2011.

"He's on fire," said Renaldo Thomas, Dawson's coach last year at Lew Wallace. "He's just having an outstanding summer."

Dawson will weigh his most recent offers with those he has already received from IU, Purdue, Georgetown and Minnesota.

A handful of other high-major schools have also expressed serious interest, including Illinois and Ohio State. Dawson said Buckeyes coach Thad Matta has been trying to get him and his mom to visit campus.

"He's given me a couple calls," Dawson said.
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High majors in pursuit of Branden Dawson
by Alex Bozich in Recruiting
insidethehall.com
May 18th, 2009

Despite reports that he is Purdue’s to lose, Gary Lew Wallace rising junior Branden Dawson isn’t counting out the basketball program in Bloomington.

After a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 16.7 points, 15.5 rebounds and four assists, the 6-6 Dawson is quickly gaining the attention of several high major programs, including Indiana.

“Indiana has offered,” Dawson said in Assembly Hall at the adidas May Classic. “I love Indiana. I came down here and visited once and I just love the atmosphere. They hustle, they play hard, they never give up. They just keep playing hard.”

Besides IU and Purdue, Dawson holds offers from UCLA, Georgetown and Minnesota. He’s also hearing from Butler, Iowa State, Xavier, Cincinnati and IUPUI.

Dawson hopes to see Bloomington again this summer and it might be in the company of his Lew Wallace teammates.

“My high school coach is trying to come down here for a team camp,” Dawson said. “I want to come, so I hope we make it and come down here and have fun.”

Scouting report: Dawson is long and extremely athletic which makes him a perfect candidate to be an impact player on the wing. He didn’t shoot much from the outside at the adidas May Classic, but he looked good in transition and also hit the boards hard. He’s already a very good prospect and with some work on his defense and ball handling, could become great.
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Dawson shows off complete game

by Brian Snow
buckeyegrove.com
Dec 23 2009

There are few players in the 2011 class nationally with the versatility of Branden Dawson. The wing player from Gary, Indiana has always been a force on the boards and attacking the rim, but now he is beginning to show off a perimeter game, and that is not a good thing ...

short but sweet. If you want to read more and have money to pay for subscription, click here.
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Branden Dawson had a good showing at the recent five-game Michael Clarke Duncan "You Can Do Anything" IPSAC/Midwest Basketball Challenge in Howe, IN over the Christmas eve week. He also made INDYSTAR.COM's 'unofficial' All-Star Second Team for the tournament.

IPSAC/Midwest Basketball Challenge
City teams swept away


By Kyle Neddenriep
INDYSTAR.COM
Posted: December 23, 2009

Gary Wallace 88, Tech 63 - LaTroy Taylor scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half as Class 3A No. 4 Wallace pulled away.

Highly-sought junior guard Branden Dawson added 21 points for Wallace (5-1) as Purdue coach Matt Painter watched. Dawson has scholarship offers from Georgetown, Indiana, Marquette, Ohio State, Purdue and UCLA.

To continue reading article, click here.
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Howe all-tourney team
Posted by Kyle Neddenriep
INDYSTAR.COM
December 23, 2009

Since there wasn't an "all-tournament" team announced Tuesday at Howe, I'll give you mine. We'll call it the Michael Clarke Duncan/Kyle Neddenriep "You Can Do Anything" IPSAC/Midwest Challenge team. Or not. Here goes:

Second team

Branden Dawson, Gary Wallace: It wasn't Dawson's best shooting game, but he still finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds with Purdue coach Matt Painter watching. He scored 15 points in the first half to help put Tech away. The 6-5 guard makes it happen on the defensive end with his long reach and quickness. He had four steals in the first half.

For the complete All-tournament teams (which includes 2010 UCLA PG target, Ray McCallum, Jr in the first team), click here.

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