UC Irvine’s Dawson Baker is a man on a mission
IRVINE, Calif. – For two years, Dawson Baker slept on the floor and ate mostly fish and rice. It was one of the best experiences of his life.
Baker’s talent as a basketball player has been obvious for quite a while. He was Capistrano Valley High’s career leader in points and steals, as well as a two-time all-state selection. He knew he wanted to continue playing and was being recruited by UC Irvine. However, he took a little detour in his basketball journey.
Before joining the Anteaters, Baker decided to follow his siblings footsteps and go on a Mormon mission.
“Growing up as a kid, it was something I always told myself I was going to do,” Baker said. “When you tell yourself something you’re going to do as a kid, the decision becomes easier when you’re older. I was always excited about the experience. I saw my brothers and sisters do it and it was something I wanted for myself.”
After graduating high school in 2018, Baker embarked on a two-year mission to Micronesia, a country in western Pacific Ocean made up of hundreds of islands. He admitted he had never heard of the country before he got his call. The nation is burdened by poverty, so Baker had to do without a lot of the comforts from back home.
Micronesia does use English as an official language for the government and commerce, but there are also several native languages. Baker was in an area where they speak Chuukese. He became fluent as he made the place his temporary home.
Although there were some big differences between California and Micronesia, Baker said he learned to not take anything for granted, including things like an air conditioner, nice meals or running water. He said he learned to be more grateful about little things during his daily life.
“The quality I saw and all the stuff they didn’t have, the people there were still happy,” Baker said. “Coming back here made me realize we don’t need social media or our phones, little things like that. We don’t need them to make us happy. The simple things and human interactions are what make us the happiest.”
Baker is currently one of the most important pieces on the UC Irvine roster. Head coach Russell Turner said Baker was underestimated as a recruit, but he proved people wrong after his first season by becoming the 2020-21 Big West Freshman of the Year.
He was quiet, sometimes too quiet, so Turner had to push him to be more vocal. Baker is still not the most extrovertive guy on the team, and definitely not what Turner would describe as an “overly demonstrative leader.”
However, the coach said Baker has proven to be a great teammate and leader in his own way. He now describes him as a confident player that brings a lot of talent and versatility to the table. Turner had to wait for two years before being able to officially add Baker to his team, but it was well worth the wait.
“The mission that Dawson took is a huge part of his story. We recruited him before he went on that mission,” Turner said. “I’ve really been impressed with what Dawson has brought back from that experience. He is a young man that has perspective. That’s really valuable and unusual for a lot of young people.”
It’s been almost two years since his mission, but Baker, now a sophomore in college, said everything he learned during that time will stick with him forever. The experiences helped give him perspective for challenges both on and off the court.
“It was definitely a very humbling experience,” Baker said. “I grew as a person and spiritually. It’s a time of my life that I always draw back to. I can do hard things because I did that. It’s defined me as a person a lot. Who I am as a person and as a basketball player is because of those two years I spent serving other people and serving God.”
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