By Omaha Central’s Jay Dawson didn’t want to waste time. One day after his AAU season ended with Nebraska Supreme, the 6-foot-4 guard announced his commitment to Loyola.
“I feel like they took a chance on me earlier and if all of the bigger schools wanted to offer me I feel like they would’ve,” Dawson said of the timing. “I feel like it is better to do it now than wait.”
Those bigger or power conference schools that had shown interest in Dawson were Virginia Tech, Virginia, Nebraska and Utah.
Dawson will be the second metro area star to commit to the Ramblers in as many recruiting cycles. Former Millard North star Saint Thomas is entering his freshman year at Loyola.
— Jayden Dawson (@JaydenDawson20) July 26, 2021
Dawson visited Loyola on June 22 and loved everything about the program and his time with the Loyola coaching staff.
“Everything about them is just better than anyone I talked to,” he said of Loyola. “Their players are great and their coaching staff is great. They loose five guards and when I’m a freshman it will be a big opportunity for me.”
Radford was the first to offer Dawson in May. Scholarship offers from Loyola, Drake, Indiana State, UMass, South Dakota State, Wyoming and George Mason came in the last two months.
At Central, Dawson’s on-court production took a big jump from his sophomore to junior season. As a sophomore, he averaged 6.2 points and 15.8 minutes per game. This past season he was one of the Eagles’ go-to players offensively, averaging 14.3 points while shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 27.7 minutes per game.
