University of Minnesota center Dominique Dawson will transfer to eight-time NCAA Division II National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan College, according Panther head coach Todd Lee.
He will have three years of eligibility at KWC.
Dawson, a 6-foot-7, 245-pounder, saw limited action as a redshirt-freshman for the Gophers this past year. He played in 10 games for head coach Tubby Smith after sitting out the 2009-10 season.
“Dominique Dawson has done a good job for us in the two seasons he has been a part of the Golden Gopher basketball family,” said Minnesota Head Coach Tubby Smith. “He's going to a great institution and program in Kentucky Wesleyan, where I know that he will contribute. We wish him the best of luck.”
The native of Minneapolis, Minn., averaged 23.1 points, 15.4 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior at Southwest High School where he was a 2009 third team All-State selection.
He also earned first team All-Minneapolis recognition for former Southwest head coach and current KWC assistant coach George Hemmingsen in 2009.
"Dominique is a great addition to our program and will help us immediately," Lee said. "He is a very good athlete, an excellent rebounder and has the ability to be a good offensive player for us.
"He has been coached the last two years by a great coach and has competed everyday against big strong athletes. The experience of playing for Coach Smith and in the Big 10 is going to really help him succeed here at Kentucky Wesleyan College and in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.”
Dawson set the single game school records for points with 32 and rebounds with 25. He also scored in double figures 20 of 21 starts as a senior.
He was runner-up for the All-Minneapolis Most Valuable Player Award.
His other senior accolades include Southwestern's Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Male Athlete of the Year along with receiving the team's Defensive and Captain's Awards.
Dawson, a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter, finished sixth in career points with 725 and ninth in career rebounds with 600
As a junior, Dawson averaged 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in starting all 21 contests where he received honorable mention all-conference recognition.
He also won the team's Most Improved Player and Defensive Awards.
Dawson started playing organized basketball as a sophomore at Southwestern. He averaged six points and three rebounds in starting 10 of all 21 games played.
Lee added, "We went into this recruiting period knowing we had to become more athletic and improve our size and he helps us in both of those areas."
He is the son of George and Kesha Dawson of Minneapolis and two brothers and a sister.
The Panthers previously signed Kreig Oxley, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound sophomore guard from Wabash Valley (Jr.) College.
The Panthers won the NCAA titles in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999 and 2001.
