He doesn’t have aspirations of making the NBA or Big Sky Conference MVP.

But a first round game in the NCAA tournament with Duke University would suit him just fine.

Don’t be fooled by the serious scowl that crosses his face when he’s defending on the full-court press.

Don’t be fooled by the 3-pointers he launches or the defenders he breezes by with a fluent stop-and-go.

And don’t be fooled into believing that he wants to be the leading scorer of the men’s basketball team.

He is just happy to be back on the basketball court – just like in the fall of 2001 when Joseth Dawson decided to walk-on to Sacramento State’s men’s basketball team.

“I was just happy to be in uniform sitting on somebody’s bench,” he said.

In his first season happy went from sitting on the bench to starting 12 of the Hornets’ 14 conference games.

The same kid who everyone said needed more work when he graduated from Fontana High School in 1999, the same kid who left Diablo Valley Junior College in the Bay Area frustrated after his first collegiate season.

The same kid who went home, with nowhere else to go, and averaged over 18 points a game his sophomore season at Mt. San Antonio College.

That same kid led a Division I college basketball program in scoring his junior year.

He had finally gotten that opportunity when men’s head basketball coach Jerome Jenkins, who was in his second year with the Hornet program, decided that Dawson would be the one to fill his vacant guard spot.

Jenkins first got a glimpse of Dawson when he was an assistant at Eastern Washington recruiting one of Dawson’s high school teammates.

“As I was watching my recruit constantly play I kept noticing Joseth and some of the things he was doing. I didn’t think he was really ready out of high school,” Jenkins said. “I thought after two years of going to junior college that he would have a chance.”

So with his two years up Dawson moved to Sacramento along with his family, after his father had been offered a promotion in the area.

And in 2001-02, his first season, he led the team in minutes, points, 3-pointers and assists.

“I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he was going to rise to the occasion like he did,” Jenkins said.

With his third college, third uniform, third set of teammates and third basketball coach in the last five years, Dawson had finally found his home.

“I don’t think anybody knew how good he was,” teammate and roommate Joel Jones said. “He’d never shown me that part of his game. When I knew how good he was, I was like okay, I have somebody who plays how I always wanted to play in college. I always imagined, behind the back plays – finishing with dunks and stuff. And I finally got that in a teammate.”

With Dawson breaking all expectations the team went 9-19 overall and 3-11 in the Big Sky.

“I think what he was able to do in the first season excited a lot of people and it even excited me a little bit,” Jenkins said. “But the thing I showed Joseth was that we still didn’t make the playoffs that year. Even though he had a good season the program still didn’t get to where we wanted it to get to. That is why this year is so important to us.”

This year Dawson has returned to the court, after sitting out last season academically ineligible.

“I messed up pretty bad,” Dawson said. “I didn’t talk to coach Jenkins for a week because I was scared to talk to him about it and he knew it too. Basically that conversation, it was just the last straw. It was one of those conversations where he just sat there and talked and I just sat there and listened.”

Jenkins had offered Dawson a scholarship but after being declared ineligible, that offer was rescinded.

“Last year Joseth had to prove to me that he wanted to be a part of the program so we didn’t talk that much until he went out and got his academics taken care of,” Jenkins said.

And taking care of his academics wasn’t easy. The spring semester Dawson had to take 12 units at Sac State and another six at Sacramento City College. In the summer he tacked on more units and eventually was eligible to play his final season.

But things have changed from two years ago. He has never been to the playoffs or won a playoff game, but seven of his teammates have.

He’s quieted down according to coach Jenkins from his first season, when the junior wasn’t afraid to share his opinion.

“(He talked) a little bit too much. The program was still building a foundation and we didn’t have a leader. We were still trying to build the foundation. Guys want to step up and say things. It wasn’t only Joseth, but is just wasn’t the right time.”

So now a calmer, more mature Dawson has found his game. Coach Jenkins fast-paced offense suits him as well as his best friend, Jones – even though they both admit they have their arguments.

“Whenever I’m cooking he always tries to come in,” Jones said. “He always thinks that his way is best when it comes to cooking. But I think I am a better cook than him. I think he knows it too.”

Dawson is no longer the “kid” that walked into the Hornets Nest over two years ago. He’s grown up according to coach Jenkins.

When he was deemed ineligible Dawson’s father, Joel, gave him the option to fix things or get a job in the real world and to Dawson’s credit he hit the books. He’s back on track to graduate and will finish school after taking six units in Fall 2004.

It’s been a long road for Dawson. From high school point guard to college shooting guard, to leading scorer on a Division I team, more people counted him out a few years ago than counted him in.

“He’s just so much more mature now,” Jenkins said. “It’s like night and day. He’s actually an adult now in my opinion and I treat him like that. He doesn’t have the same mood swings that he used to have. He’s accepted that I am the coach and he’s the player.”

His former high school coach, John McNally, recalls a quiet kid who was an intelligent basketball player. A fearless guard who was confident in his abilities.

Five years later, coach Jenkins sees a young man, an adult, who was able to redirect himself to get back on the right track.

Dawson’s father sees his son capable of competing in society once he gets his degree.

Jones sees his best friend as someone who everyone will remember.

But just like the past, it doesn’t matter what other people think, it matters what Dawson believes he can accomplish.

“It’s kind of hard to sit out a year and comeback where we left off,” Dawson said. “But at the same time I am just trying to win games and just trying to have fun with my teammates so we can win a championship.”