De'Ron Davis has every reason to be upbeat and chipper.
Davis, a 6-8 power forward from Aurora, Colo., led Overland High School to a state championship last month and ESPN ranks him as Colorado's top high school player. At least eight major college programs, including the University of Arkansas, have offered the junior a scholarship.
It's no wonder why he's constantly wearing a smile while on the court.
"He's just a happy kid," Colorado Hawks Coach Simeon Boddie said. "He enjoys life. He enjoys being around his teammates. He enjoys traveling. He's never upset. We're trying to get him to play with a little bit of an edge, but we don't want him to lose himself. If he's happy and enjoying the game, then we want him to play like he's happy and enjoying the game."
"Nothing in my life is ever too bad to stop smiling," Davis said. "When my teammates see me smile, they're going to smile too. That's my way of being a leader."
Davis came up with a huge effort during the final moments on Friday in the Hawks' first game of Real Deal in the Rock. His blocked shot and rebound with :07 remaining sealed the Hawks' 51-48 victory over St. Louis Gateway in 17U Division action. Fourteen seconds earlier, Davis had knocked down two free throws that gave Colorado its three-point lead.
Action continues today starting at 8 a.m. in the 11th annual event. Bracket play will begin for most teams at 3:25 p.m. Championship games for all divisions will be played Sunday.
Davis shook off a slow start Friday, missing his first four field-goal attempts. He finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots, hitting 5 of 6 free-throw attempts and 5 of 12 shots from the floor.
Davis averaged 16.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots a game in leading Overland to a 23-5 record and a state title in Class 5A, Colorado's largest classification. Davis scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 55-42 victory in the championship game over ThunderRidge (Highland Ranch, Colo.) High School.
"His biggest strength is his basketball IQ," Boddie said. "There's a ton of bigs that can pound it and finish, but there's not a ton of bigs who can make the right pass, the right shot, shoot free throws and play within the team concept."
Boddie says Davis is "a really humble kid" despite all the hype and accolades he has received.
"A lot of these kids on our team were his teammates on his high school team and they keep him humble with the jokes and the playfulness," Boddie said. "They keep it all in perspective for him. He just led his team to a state championship, but he understands the humility of being a star player."
Davis says he doesn't feel added pressure despite the high grades he has received from basketball scouts.
"I just go out and play my game," Davis said. "It's great to be considered as one of the best players to come out of Colorado, but I try not to look at it like that."
Davis said he enjoys the comparisons to another player from Colorado -- former NBA star Chauncey Billups, who spent 17 years in the NBA.
"We're from the same neighborhood," Davis said of Billups. "His grandmother lives just around the corner from where I do. I'm honored to be compared to him."
"Chauncey Billups is the best player to ever come out of Denver and we all know that," Boddie said. "But to say De'Ron is the best to come out of the state in long time, I can agree with that."
Davis and the Colorado Hawks are scheduled to play 1 Nation Elite at 11:15 a.m. at P.A.R.K.
Davis is no stranger to Arkansas. He has attended two basketball camps in Fayetteville and two of his coaches are from Arkansas. The Razorbacks began showing interest in Davis four years ago.
"I'm one loyal dude," Davis said. "Arkansas began recruiting me when I was in the eighth grade and any program that's stuck with me for all of that time, I'm going to give them some serious thought."
Sports on 04/04/2015