Story by Jacob Holmes:
The Los Angeles Clippers have signed former Michigan State star Branden Dawson, after acquiring him in a draft night trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Dawson was the 56th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Dawson was a star player at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Ind., and was selected for the 2011 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game his senior year. In 2010, Dawson verbally committed to Michigan State.
In his first year with the Spartans, Dawson averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, despite a season-ending ACL injury. In his junior year, Dawson improved his averages to 11.2 points and 8.3 points per game. By his senior year, Dawson had improved to 11.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
In his senior year, Dawson led the Spartans the NCAA Final Four, where they were defeated by eventual national champion Duke. Dawson finished his career with Michigan State as the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 142.
The Clippers decided to sign Dawson after his appearances in four of the Clippers’ games at the Orlando Summer League, where he averaged 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds, second in the league, and recorded a double-double in three games.
