It’s been a whirlwind week for Omaha Central’s Jay Dawson. The 2022 guard has traveled to three different campuses and had the opportunity to play with two college programs in four days. 

Dawson, a 6-foot-4 combo guard, started his week with a Monday scholarship offer from Wyoming.

“They have followed me on Twitter a while ago and they said a lot of people have been telling them about me,” Dawson said of his relationship with the Cowboys. “I haven’t visited there but they just called and offered after watching me play a lot.” 

The call from Wyoming came while Dawson was in Chicago getting ready to visit Loyola. A Tuesday unofficial visit resulted in another scholarship offer, Dawson’s third Division I offer, Radford offered in May. 

“It (Loyola) was really nice. The campus is right on Lake Michigan,” he said. “The dorms overlook the lake and it looks like you are looking into the ocean. Everything about it was super nice, from the basketball facilities to the classrooms and the dorms.”

Wednesday, on his way back from Chicago, Dawson spent the day unofficially visiting Drake in Des Moines, Iowa. 

“It was nice. Nothing was really new but everything about it was nice,” he said of Drake. “The coaches are great and I got to play with the guys a little bit. Everything about it was super cool.”

Like most visits do, the Drake visit ended with a conversation with the coaching staff. 

“We talked and they (Drake) said they had to offer everyone on film and live streams last year so they want to wait and see me play live in person in July,” Dawson said.  

The week on the road continued with a trip up Interstate 29 to Brookings, S.D., and South Dakota State. The result was his third scholarship offer this week.

“It (SDSU) was the oldest facility but they said by the time I would be there everything will be redone,” Dawson said. “They showed us the video of what it is supposed to look like and it is really nice. We didn’t tour as much but they have a newer practice facility and that’s nice.” 

Dawson has one more visit this week — a Friday unofficial with the hometown team Omaha. 

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. 

His spring playing with Nebraska Supreme UAA 17U obviously turned more heads. Something he is looking forward to doing more of in July. The first time college coaches will really be able to evaluate him in-person. 

“It is a combination of all of it,” Dawson said of his anticipation for July traditional live periods. “Finally being able to play on a shoe circuit. This is really my first time playing in front of coaches where they can actually evaluate me. Last year and this spring all they had was live streams so I’m looking forward to playing in front of them.”

He doesn’t have a commitment timeline or a favorite school at this point but he knows what he’s looking for in a college program. 

“I want to play for a school that has a brotherly vibe,” he said. “A great coaching staff and obviously a school that fits my playing style and a school with a great education.”