Dawson Garcia, Elijah Hawkins yet to decide if they'll return to Gophers

They're arguably Minnesota's top two players and have eligibility to return in 2024-25

Two of Minnesota's to players have eligibility to return for the 2024-25 season but Dawson Garcia and Elijah Hawkins say they haven't yet made their decision. 

"I've just been focused on the season. I do have an extra year of eligibility so there's definitely a possibility that I could use that," Garcia said Tuesday. "It's really just going to be a decision – I'll make it quick in the spring – because whatever I want to do I want to be fully committed to. But yeah, that's where I'm at."

Hawkins echoed Garcia's thoughts: "Same. Just trying to focus on the rest of the season and that'll take place when it's time."

Both players are juniors and could return to help Minnesota contend in the Big Ten next season. Garcia is Minnesota's leading scorer and Hawkins leads the nations in assists. If one or neither return, the outlook for the 2024-25 season would take a significant hit. 

Gophers fans have been expressing excitement about what could happen not only in next week's Big Ten Tournament but next season if the starting five of Hawkins, Garcia, Mike Mitchell, Cam Christie and Pharrel Payne return. 

They could also have Braeden Carrington, Josh Ola-Joseph and incoming freshman Isaac Asuma, who is a top-100 recruit from Cherry High School and is one of the finalists for the annual Mr. Basketball Award in Minnesota. 

The Gophers are far from done this season. They wrap up the regular season schedule this week at home Wednesday against Indiana and then at Northwestern on Saturday, followed by the Big Ten Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis March 13-17. 

How they fare in the conference tournament will determine their postseason fate, which favors a trip to the N.I.T. rather than the NCAA Tournament. 

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Feb 6, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tre Holloman (5) dribbles as Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) and guard Elijah Hawkins (0) defend during the first half at Williams Arena / Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports