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Elder Dunson Chooses Missouri Valley
by Pat Benninger
February 25, 2008

Former Bloomington High School star Dodie Dunson II has traveled a long path to get into the position he is now.  Finally, the 6'3" 190 lbs point guard has chosen his final collegiate destination.  Next season he will be in Peoria, Illinois, suiting up for Bradley University.

"He committed Saturday to them," stated Vincenness University assistant coach Brian Davis.

Out of high school Dunson selected Illinois State over offers from 20+ Division I programs including Bradley and Marquette.  However, he had a change of heart and opted to go to prep school where he attended Brewster Academy.  While at Brewster, Dodie saw an abundance of attention from ACC, Big Ten, and Big XII schools before eventually choosing Iowa State.

As a true freshman at Iowa State, Dunson was the only player to appear in all 31 contests for the Cyclones.  He had one start and posted a career high 19 points against Missouri.  He averaged 5.3 ppg, led the team in free throw percentage, shooting better than 81%, and only committed 24 turnovers in 690 minutes.

After a solid debut in the Big XII program, Dunson decided to transfer to Vincennes University, a high level junior college, due to his dyslexia and academic troubles.  Currently, Dodie is averaging 10.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, and is the only player on the roster to start in every single contest.  He received a lot of attention from both high majors and mid majors and garnered scholarship offers from some well-to-do programs including University of Iowa.  In the end, Dunson narrowed it to BU, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, Illinois State, Oral Roberts, SMU, SIU-Edwardsville, and VCU before choosing the Braves.

"Dodie really liked the coaching staff, proximity to home, the MVC, and the potential for early playing time with Ruffin and Crouch leaving. Dodie is a great character guy, does everything you would want on and off the court and was a great pickup for us this year. He should do good at Bradley with his basketball I.Q, and work ethic. Very athletic, can get to the basket or knock down shots. Dodie can now totally focus on leading us in postseason play as we try to make it back to the NJCAA Finals."

He is the second guard from his junior college to commit to an MVC school as Rashad Reed has pledged his verbal to Indiana State earlier this week.

Dodie is the older brother of current SIU-Edwardsville guard Brandon Dunson.

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