Keanu Dawes spent the majority of his childhood watching the Runnin’ Utes shoot the rock inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center as a native of Salt Lake City. In his second year of college ball, the sophomore forward has returned home to wear Utah’s threads on a familiar floor.
Dawes grew up a Utah Man going to football and basketball games as his grandpa, Larry, had season tickets to the Runnin’ Utes. However, when he was just nine years old, Dawes moved to Houston, Texas. Dawes fell in love with basketball early, and once he got settled in Houston, his time on the hardcourt took off.
Dawes competed in AAU immediately and always knew he was going to play basketball at the next level. Despite a difficult move halfway across the country, Dawes found the game as a way to battle its challenges.
“Utah and Houston are two completely different places, but whenever you play basketball, you realize it’s not so much different,” said Dawes. “Everybody’s just the same and everyone has the same goal.”
Dawes put together an impressive résumé while hooping at Stratford High School, being named the 2023 District 17 6A Offensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the 2023 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team.
Dawes started his collegiate career closer to home, opting to stay in Houston to play at Rice.
With the Owls, Dawes made an appearance in all 32 games and finished the season on the 2023-24 AAC All-Freshman Team. After just one season, Dawes looked to continue his career elsewhere.
Just a few weeks after the season ended, head coach Craig Smith pulled Dawes back to Salt Lake City to play for the Runnin’ Utes.
“Growing up here and just wanting to be at Utah was huge. I liked the vision Coach Smith had for me, and just going into the Big 12 was a huge part of it too…It just made the perfect situation.”
After a decade away from The Hill, Dawes knew the significance of being a Runnin’ Ute and playing in his childhood arena.
“It’s super special,” Dawes said. “My childhood dream was to be able to come here and play basketball. It means something every time I put on this jersey or I’m just glad to represent the Utes.”
The chance to play in his hometown also comes with the opportunity to play in front of family. The Dawes family still resides in the greater Salt Lake area and doesn’t…
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