UNC basketball announces Dawson Garcia will miss remainder of the season
North Carolina sophomore forward Dawson Garcia will miss the remainder of the season so that he can stay in Minnesota as his grandmother deals with a serious illness.
Garcia, a native of Prior Lake, Minnesota, has missed the past six games for the Tar Heels, starting with their Jan. 24 win over Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-11 transfer from Marquette started 12 of the first 16 games he played in this season.
“After the loss of several very special family members this past year, I came close to losing my dad in December and my grandma is currently in the ICU (intensive care unit),” Garcia said in a statement. “With my dad recovering and my grandma fighting for her life, it’s not even a question to me where I need to be right now. My family is my world and I will always be there for them.”
Garcia was in the Heels starting lineup until he suffered a concussion two minutes into their win at Boston College on Jan. 2. He missed two games before returning to action against Georgia Tech on Jan. 15. Garcia played three games before leaving to return home.
“I love coaching Dawson and understand his primary concern right now is his family’s health and welfare, and his focus continues to be with them as it should be,” UNC head coach Hubert Davis said in a statement. “We miss him being part of our program and wish him and his family well and look forward to his return to the game at the appropriate time.”
Garcia averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and was shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range. His absence will leave the Heels with a thin frontcourt of Armando Bacot and Brady Manek. Along with Anthony Harris, who is out the rest of the season, it also leaves UNC without two players that were in its rotation from the start of the season.
“Not everyone will understand, but those who know our family are very aware of the circumstances and challenges we are facing,” Garcia said. “As much as I love this University and basketball, being in the middle of a health crisis is where our family is right now and it’s where I need to be.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 5:47 PM.