Dawson settled in at Liberty

Editor's note: This is part of a series of stories on local players in college basketball programs.

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Clovis High 2013 graduate John Dawson wasn’t that unhappy when he decided to leave Marquette and look for a place to continue his college basketball career.

He’s just more settled now at Liberty University.

Since transferring to the Big South Conference school at midseason a year ago, the 6-foot-2 senior guard has started all 45 games he’s played for the Flames. This year, he’s helping them contend for a league title.

“Coming here was the best thing for me,” Dawson said this week. “I’m grateful to be here. God just put me here and I’m blessed to be here.

“I just felt like me and the Marquette program were going in different directions, and I was fine with that.”

At Liberty, the religion-oriented school founded in 1971 by the late evangelist Jerry Falwell, Dawson is averaging 9.4 points a game this season, ranking him third on the team. The Flames are 14-10 overall and share the Big South lead with North Carolina-Asheville and Winthrop at 9-2.

Liberty hosts conference foe Radford tonight.

Dawson was an All-Big South honorable mention selection last year, averaging 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 21 games.

He scored a career-high 22 points last February against Radford. His season high is 20 points against Gardner-Webb on Jan. 19.

Flames coach Ritchie McKay, who coached Liberty from 2007-09 and returned to the school this year after six seasons as an assistant at the University of Virginia, said Dawson could play professionally on the international level after he graduates in May, if he chooses.

“I think John will be successful at whatever he does,” McKay said. “He’s a hard worker and a lovable kid.

“I think John has a chance to play for money. I think some team would love to have him.”

Dawson, an advertising major playing for his fourth coach in four years, said he would welcome the chance to keep playing.

“That’s an option for me,” he said. “I want to play basketball as long as I can walk.

“I would like to stay in sports. Sports has been a big part of my life.”