Lucas: Garcia Has Big Plans

By Adam Lucas

Dawson Garcia and Kerwin Walton first met in fifth grade. Predictably, Walton made a very specific type of impression.

"He's always been a lights out shooter," Garcia says of Walton. "We played together in AAU, and I remember one game he made ten or 12 three-pointers."

Garcia's connection to Walton—Garcia is from Prior Lake, Minnesota, while Walton is from Hopkins, which put them growing up about 20 minutes apart—gave him an easy resource when he entered the transfer portal from Marquette last year.

Carolina had heavily recruited Garcia as a high schooler before a commitment from another big man took them out of contention. But when he decided to leave Marquette, he had an easy source for information about Chapel Hill.

"Kerwin is a man of few words," Garcia says. "But he said Carolina is a special place, and if I want to come be a legend, this is the spot."

The addition of Garcia in early July allowed Hubert Davis to dramatically remake his roster in just a few months. Brady Manek provided the stretch four Davis wants to open the floor. Justin McKoy brings the blend of offensive scoring and defensive intensity on the wing.

And at a solid 6-foot-11, 235 pounds, Garcia—who scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Marquette's win at Carolina in February—gives the Tar Heels some depth in the paint while also possessing the ability to force defenses to guard him all the way out to the three-point line.

Defending Garcia is a challenge because of his unique ability to score with either hand. The sophomore does everything in his life right-handed…except for shooting a basketball, which he does lefty.

"When I was in the backyard, that's how my dad had me shooting," he says. "That's the only answer I can really give. It just felt natural to shoot it left. But especially getting to the rim, I almost feel more comfortable finishing with my right hand than my left hand."

Garcia has the benefit of being tutored on some of those post moves by assistant coach Sean May, the 2005 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. May put together perhaps the most dominant closing stretch to a season in the Roy Williams era, and Garcia couldn't help but notice the celebratory championship shots and magazine covers featuring his new assistant coach around the Smith Center.

That prompted him to look up some May highlights (Garcia was three years old when the Tar Heels won the 2005 title in St. Louis), and he was impressed.

"He was a monster," Garcia says. "Everything he says, he's done. He's lived it already, and now he's trying to help us out. That's really cool to see. He's a player's coach, and he wants us to play hard and compete."

Like Walton, Garcia isn't necessarily loquacious off the court. But he's been impressive on the court with his vocal leadership, where he's been one of the first Tar Heels to embrace Davis's demands that his team talk at all times.

"I'm excited to bring energy and constantly talk on the court," he says. "That makes a big difference. Not only to your teammates, but it also gives yourself energy."

Garcia has a very simple goal for his first year in Chapel Hill. He's looking forward to seeing a Smith Center packed with fans—as soon as next Friday night for Late Night—and has big plans for on-court success.

For him, a good 2021-22 season has a very simple definition.

"That would mean I contributed to helping us win a national championship in a big way," he says.

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Dawson Garcia

Brady Manek

Justin McKoy

Kerwin Walton

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