Some brutal news hit BYU basketball this week, and it’s about as tough as it gets. Senior guard Dawson Baker announced on Instagram that he’s done for the season after suffering a complete tear of his ACL, a torn lateral meniscus, grade 2 sprains in both his MCL and LCL, some bone bruising, muscle and tendon strains, small impact fractures, and even some mild PLC involvement for good measure. If it sounds like a laundry list, that’s because it is.
That’s not just a knee injury, that’s a medical thesis. Baker’s been dealing with lingering leg issues for a while now, but this confirms what a lot of fans feared: it’s way worse than expected, and he’s not coming back anytime soon.
For BYU, this is a punch to the gut. Baker wasn’t the headliner, but he was a glue guy for this rotation. A tough, experienced guard who could shoot, defend, and give steady minutes when things got chaotic. You just can’t replace that. He transferred in from UC Irvine with real expectations, and when healthy, he showed why. But between the previous injury setbacks and now this latest bombshell, it’s hard not to feel for the guy.
As for BYU, it puts pressure on the rest of the backcourt to step up. They’ve got depth, but losing a senior voice in the locker room matters. It’s going to fall on a mix of young guards and rotational guys to pick up the slack. Kevin Young has been here before, and he’ll figure something out, but make no mistake, this hurts.
For Dawson Baker, it’s about healing up and finding his way back. The road’s long, but if anyone’s going to attack it with the right mindset, it’s a guy who’s already proven he won’t quit.
