L.J. Dunn was recruited by former Barton men’s basketball assistant Donald Payton during his senior year in high school.

“We came down for a workout and it was one of the most intense workouts I’d done during my college tours,” said Dunn.  “It’s a small campus, close to home and with a team that previously made it to the Elite Eight the year before which made it a no-brainer for me.”

Dunn, a 2011 graduate of Barton College, was part of the Bulldogs’ 2006-07 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship Team during his first season.

Dunn was also a two-time First-Team All-Conference Carolinas and All-Region selection (2008-09 and 2010-11) and led the Bulldogs to the conference regular season and tournament championships and subsequent berths to the playoffs in 2006-07 and 2008-09.

Dunn is the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (986) and ranks sixth in school history in total points (1,468) and blocked shots (66) in the NCAA Division II era.

Dunn is second all-time on Barton’s career list with games played (124) and guided Barton to a 93-32 record during his four seasons of competition.

“A deep sense of pride,” said Dunn on playing for the Bulldogs.  “When an organization and coach believes in you, it makes you want to run through a wall for them.”

A reverse lay-up for the “and-one” to give Barton the lead in the regional championship against Millersville (Pa.) in 2007 was one of the moments that stood out for Dunn during his playing days at Barton.

“Of course, the championship year is top of mine,” commented Dunn.  “There are probably 50 stories I can tell about that year.”

Dunn is currently living in Raleigh, N.C., and working in the banking software space.  Dunn was also named the 2010-11 Barton Male Co-Athlete of the Year.