Marquette transfer Dawson Garcia is withdrawing his name from the 2021 NBA Draft and will play college basketball in 2021-22, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. This was news that seemed likely after recent developments in his recruiting process that came on Sunday morning.
Garcia has already narrowed down his list of four schools that he is considering playing for this coming season. On July 4, Rothstein reported that Garcia is considering a return to Marquette, as well as North Carolina, Illinois and Arizona. Of course, three of those four schools are looking for some veteran presence to add to the roster as they go through big changes in their programs.
Marquette, Garcia’s former school, is beginning a new era with former Texas head coach Shaka Smart taking over on the sideline. North Carolina has hired Hubert Davis to replace Roy Williams, who retired this spring, and Arizona has hired former Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd as the replacement for Sean Miller. The only team of those four schools that returns its coach from last season is Illinois, who brings back Brad Underwood for his fifth season as the school’s head coach.
Whichever team adds the 6-foot-11 forward, they will be getting a talented player that posted big numbers last year. Garcia averaged 13 points per game last year on 48% shooting to co-lead Marquette in scoring. Garcia also grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game, which was the highest number on the team.
Eric Bossi, a national basketball director for 247Sports, recently highlighted some of the biggest remaining NBA Draft decisions. Garcia made Bossi’s list and explained in-depth why Garcia was one of the biggest names that needed to make up his mind on what his future plans held.
“There is a new coach in Milwaukee as former Texas coach Shaka Smart prepares for his first season at Marquette,” Bossi wrote. “Having freshman power forward Dawson Garcia back would sure help Smart when it comes to establishing himself.
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“At nearly 6-foot-11, Garcia certainly has the size and skill to eventually play in the NBA. He did score an invite to the G League Elite Camp, but that’s probably not the most encouraging thing for somebody who is hoping to be a first-round pick or at least get a guarantee in the second. Garcia would likely improve on the 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game he put up as a freshman if he comes back to play for Smart and he would certainly be a big boost for what is going to be a much different looking team.”
247Sports’ Robbie Weinstein contributed to this report