Garden State Guard Picks Clemson

Al-Amir Dawes(St. Patrick High), a four-star guard, committed to Clemson over Providence, Seton Hall and St. John's at 3:30 p.m. Dawes is a combo guard who will fill a need for head coach Brad Brownell. He is the second commit for the 2019 class. 

With starting senior guards Shelton Mitchell and Marcquise Reed moving on after this season, it was important for Brownell to sign two guards in this class. Clyde Trapp, Anthony Oliver II, John Newman and Chase Hunter, the other 2019 commit, were the only guards able to fill those positions, until today. 

Dawes, like Hunter, can easily man either guard position but is expected to compete with Trapp for minutes as the lead guard. 

The 6-foot-1, 175 pound, Newark, NJ native is a very good ball handler and passer. From the moment the ball hits his hands, his head is up, and he is probing the court for an open teammate. Clemson pushes the ball when the opportunity presents itself, and Dawes is the type of guard who can invigorate the tempo even more than usual. He is also a good mid-range and three-point shooter with the ability to make baskets in the lane under duress. 

Dawes averaged 16 points, four assists and over two rebounds for the Playaz on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer.

Brownell and staff will now concentrate on finding a small forward and center to join Dawes and Hunter in a four-man recruiting class.