Chase Dawson didn't choose Morehead State because it was convenient. He chose it because it felt right. "I could just feel like it was a need, that they really needed me in their program, they needed me to be their point guard," Dawson said. "Coach Mattox and the coaching staff really made it known that they needed me there to play."
After entering the transfer portal, Dawson learned quickly how unpredictable the process could be. "You're hearing from a lot of schools one day and then other days you might not," he said. But Morehead State was different. "They were aggressive off the jump… they just showed me that they needed me." That sense of belonging, paired with a staff that made it feel like family, made the decision easy. "I definitely feel like I made the right choice."
Basketball has been in Dawson's life since he could walk, thanks to his father's example and guidance. "My dad played college ball. He played at University of Akron, which is in Ohio. He also played juco ball and he just grew up playing basketball. So he kind of just transferred that down to me and instilled that in me."
Dawson didn't just learn from watching—he played for his dad on the AAU circuit, soaking in lessons that extended beyond the game. "Being up under my dad kind of most of my life really, I feel like, shaped my basketball journey and what I wanted to do with basketball." Those lessons, rooted in discipline and resilience, have continued to guide him. "I've learned a lot of lessons through basketball, mainly from my dad's experience… and I just use that now to my advantage."
Dawson's path to Division I wasn't smooth. He battled through two major injuries in high school—breaking his foot as a freshman and tearing his ACL during his junior year. But through every setback, he held onto a simple mantra: keep working. "The main thing is you just have to keep working. Like it might sound cliche, but it is true."
Those injuries could have derailed his dreams, but Dawson chose a different response. "Everyone's journey is different. It's never too late. You just have to put in the work to get there." That relentless mindset carried him to Morehead State and remains at the heart of his message to young players. "You got to stand out and you got to outwork people. So I would just say, put your head down and keep working for sure."
When it comes to players he studies, Dawson points to Darius Garland. "He's a smaller, quicker guard, very shifty, can score, pass, everything," Dawson said. "Watching him growing up when he was in college at Vanderbilt and then watching him with Cleveland, a lot of his stuff inspired me."
As a smaller guard himself, Dawson learned the importance of being dynamic and creative. "Just being smaller guards, we have to stand out. I feel like watching Darius Garland a lot really helped me in terms of who I wanted to model my game after."
Dawson carries his hometown with him every time he steps on the floor. "Growing up in Durham (North Carolina) is definitely something I take pride in, obviously because it's my hometown," he said. "Not a lot of kids from my area always make it to the Division I level and up. So that's something I definitely take pride in."
Durham's basketball scene was a proving ground. "Growing up there was always great. It was very competitive, even from middle school up." Dawson played high school basketball at Cary Academy, where he began to showcase his game against top competition. "Cary Academy was a 4A school, so we would always play some of the best private schools in North Carolina. North Carolina is the hoop state, everybody calls it that. So growing up there definitely shaped my competitiveness and just shaped who I am as a player."
His circle of influence included successful players from Durham, including New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy. "Just growing up alongside those guys and a lot of other successful guys from Durham is just something to take pride in."
Dawson also credits his godbrother, Bobby Pettiford Jr., as a key influence. "Someone who's been a real role model to me is my godbrother, Bobby Pettiford Jr. Just growing up, watching him, playing under him all my life," he said. Pettiford's journey through Kansas, ECU, and High Point showed Dawson what was possible. "He played big time college ball, big time college moments. So I would just say him being my brother, that's someone who I always kind of looked up to."
One of Dawson's favorite memories at Morehead State came during a defining win. "My favorite moment since I've been at Morehead was winning that regular season at Little Rock this year," he said. "That was my first year playing Division I basketball, and to be able to win a regular season title—that's something big." He also cherishes the atmosphere of postseason play. "Playing in the OVC tournament in Evansville was a really fun experience… but my favorite moment is winning at Little Rock this past year."
Off the court, Dawson finds balance through simple joys. "I really love to play video games. I really love spending time with my friends, especially now since I'm away from home a lot," he said. "Being with fam is one of the most important things to me as well."
As a returning starter, Dawson embraces the responsibility of setting the tone for the program's culture. "Returning as a starter from a team last year that was really successful, I feel like gives me a big advantage in terms of being a leader on this team," he said. "The guys on the team kind of look at me in a leader way just because I was a starter on last year's team that went to the OVC championship and won the regular season."
His leadership aligns with the identity Head Coach Mattox preaches daily. "Coach Mattox always tells me just instill the culture in the guys… that's something to me as the point guard returning starter that I know," Dawson said. "We're going to play tough. We're going to play fast. We're going to be gritty. And that's something that Coach Mattox always preaches."
It's a mindset Dawson lives out on the court. "I'm a tough guy. I'm a gritty guy. So I just feel like instilling that in these new guys has been an important part of this summer."
And if you're wondering what soundtrack would capture his game, Dawson already has it picked out. "If I had to choose one song, I'd probably choose 'Bless Me Up' by Rylo Rodriguez," he said. "But I do like a lot of Youngboy, a lot of Lil Baby, Gunna, artists like that."
Whether it's in the locker room, on a road trip, or in a big moment late in the game, Dawson carries that same energy—focused, grounded, and ready to lead. "We just got to stay locked in and keep pounding the road."
