Angelo State Men's Basketball Adds Tennessee State Transfer

SAN ANGELO, TX — Angelo State men's basketball head coach Vinay Patel announced the sixth transfer signing of the summer in 6-foot-6 guard Denim Dawson.

Dawson, a San Bernardino, California product, comes to Angelo State from Division I school Tennessee State. Dawson was one of the team's top defenders and started 10 times. He averaged 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Before TSU, Dawson began his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska, where he started eight games and was an Academic All-Big Ten Selection for the Cornhuskers in 2023.

"We are thrilled to announce the signing of Denim Dawson at Angelo State!" exclaimed Patel. "Denim has gained valuable experience starting games in the Ohio Valley Conference and the Big 10 Conference. At 6-6, he has a chance to help our team create some mismatches on both ends of the floor."

At Nebraska, he posted his best game in a win over Ohio State, scoring seven points and grabbing eight rebounds against the Buckeyes.

"At the Division I level, Denim was one of his team's primary defenders, and his toughness will help us improve on that end of the floor," said Patel. "His length and athleticism were one of our favorite things about him, but his character and personality make him a perfect fit for our program."

Dawson's prep career saw him star under head coach Daniel Dunbar at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. As a senior, he averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game while reaching the Division 2AA CIF-SS quarterfinals.

Dawson shot close to 40 percent from three-point range en route to being named the Trinity League MVP and earning an all-conference selection.

"We are excited about what he brings to our perimeter play and know he is going to be laser-focused on helping our team achieve its maximum potential," said Patel. "He can score at all three levels, and we believe our offensive philosophy will help him bring the best basketball out of himself."

After his time at Orange Lutheran, where he was the 20th-ranked prospect in Southern California, Dawson did a postgraduate year at Southern California Academy, where he was a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports.

"Our staff enjoyed getting to know him and his family throughout the process, and we know our fans will be excited to get to know him and watch him play," said Patel.

The Rams are coming off a season in which they went 19-11 overall and qualified for the South Central Regional for the second straight season under Patel's leadership.