Gophers' Dawson Garcia sticking around for another year

Dawson Garcia is staying in Dinkytown for another year.

Garcia announced on Thursday his intention to return to the Gophers men’s basketball program for the 2024-25 season. 

This will be his fifth and final season of eligibility.

“I take extreme pride and gratitude in wearing Minnesota across my chest,” Garcia said in a statement. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to run it back one last time and represent this state. Let’s make it a special year Gopher nation!”

Garcia was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection this past season and was the Gophers’ leading scorer, averaging 17.6 points per game. He also led the U in rebounds (207) and rebounds per game (6.7), as well as free-throw percentage (80%).

Garcia’s return is crucial for a Gophers team that recently lost several players to the transfer portal, including the entirety of the 2022 class in Josh Ola-Joseph, Pharrel Payne and Braeden Carrington. Should the rest of the roster now return, Minnesota will return four of five starters from last season, including its leading scorer in Garcia.