Auburn, ME – Head Men's Basketball Coach Dave Gonyea is pleased to announce Ethan Dawber, a 6'6" swing man from Newcastle, Australia has signed on with the Mustangs for the 2020-21 campaign. Dawber graduated from St Francis Xavier's College in 2018 and took a gap year to sort out his future. After a visit to America for a basketball trip, his juices got reinvigorated and wanted to come back to college and play basketball. He also wanted to follow his lifelong dream of studying medicine.
Coach Gonyea reports, "I spend a fair amount of time studying film, especially film on aussie's. What was noticeable about Ethan was the manner and comfort he handled the ball. At 6'6", that's a skill not many have in our league. He gets to the rim, shoots it well, and can clog up the paint. I see him fitting in our system and playing a significant role. Like most aussies, they all want to be part of something special and are very team oriented. Ethan fits that bill as well!"
Ethan answered the following:
Why did you choose CM?
CM provides Great Academics and Basketball program that will help me develop to my best level with a bonus of being in a great location and amazing campus. After talking to previous students and Coach Gonyea they really made it easy.
What did you like most about the campus?
The atmosphere and landscape that surrounds the campus, as well as all the facilities (e.g. dorms, labs, gym etc.) that are world-class and all close together.
How do you think playing college basketball will differ from your previous experience?
It will be a lot faster paced rather than our very structured game in Australia, and filled with more athleticism. The training and playing schedule will be more intense to what I have previously done.
What are you most looking forward to about attending and playing basketball at CM?
I am most looking forward to being able to study what I want which will help me pursue my desired career path. On the basketball side of things, I'm looking forward to playing under the great coaching staff who really believe in what I can do and make sure we keep on top of our studies, as well as my chance to develop my shot which I am continually working on which is coming and being able to play my style of game. I'm keen to be with a bunch of guys who want to play together and compete for each other in a tough league. Nothing beats a team that is tied together like family.
What do you think you can bring to the team next year?
I believe I can bring great leadership, desire to win and improve, and physicality. I will be able to set the tone defensively as well as setting my team mates up with my playmaking ability and ability to attack and finish at the rim.
Describe your basketball experience.
My basketball experience has been a long and hard run but also an enjoyable, astonishing, and eye-opening experience. I've been playing since I was about 6 years old. By the time I was 9/10 I was playing junior representative basketball and have been doing that ever since with both junior and senior teams in Newcastle, Australia. I have been lucky enough to play for my state on multiple occasions in Australian National Championships and Australian Country Junior Championships where I have won 3 gold medals. I have been selected in Talented Athlete Programs, State Performance Programs and National Performance Programs. I have competed in two Australian School Championships at St. Francis Xavier's College. I also had the chance to compete in Australian Club Championships. I think that covered most of my achievements and experience which has been an incredible journey. After being able to travel with different teams on multiple occasions to all kinds of places around the state and country it has allowed me to not only develop my basketball skills, but to develop as a person and develop friendships with team mates and coaches that will last a lifetime and will forever be grateful of. A lot of my best mates are from the basketball scene. I've been very grateful and fortunate to have had the opportunities and experiences with basketball, I don't know where I'd be without them. Now to be able to study and play college basketball is a dream come true. This is where the hard work begins.
What is your biggest strength in basketball?
I'm a very versatile player at 6'6" with a large frame that can play and guard 1 through 5. My ability to read the game on both the offensive and defensive ends allow me to be effective and bring leadership to the group with my previous experience and knowledge. I can attack the paint and finish at the rim from the perimeter and post, make plays for my team mates with my playmaking ability and vision, and most importantly my ability on the defensive end to guard perimeter and post players effectively which is what I believe to be my overall biggest strength.
Ethan's quote:
"You are the decider of your destiny, the inventor of your identity. You create your own story; and most importantly you write the final chapter."
Basketball Achievements
2 x All-State School Team/NSWCCC Team
- 2x NSW Country State Team 2015-2018 (Aus. national championships)
- 5x NSW Country Team 2013-2017 (Aus. country junior championships) - 3 x gold medals (14.5ppg; 8 reb; 6 as) < unofficial statistics as only points were recorded
- NSW Talented Athlete Program
- NSW State Performance Program/National Performance Program
- 2013 ACJBC New Zealand Tour
- 2x Australian School Championships
- State School Championship MVP (17ppg; 8 assists; 8 rebounds) < counted by school
- MVP Junior Representative Program (Elliott Jay Memorial Award)
- 3x Hunters Award Winner MVP/Defensive player
- Newcastle Hunters Junior/Senior Representative 2010-2020(Started every year) (3x Country Champs; 2x State Champs) (5x Captain)
- 2013 Australian Club Championships (Captain - Newcastle Hunters) > Fair Play Award Recipient
- 2020 Canberra Gunners Representative Program
- State Primary School Championships 2012
