There are many occasions when you watch a young man with a unique skill set and you can just see that it will translate to the next level. One of those players last year was Jemal Davis, a 6’9 prospect from Liberty Heights.
He is a long, versatile prospect that does a tremendous job in operating in multiple settings. We saw that on multiple occasions last year; here are just a few write-ups we had about Davis:
“Davis brings such intrigue to the table immediately with his versatility and size, to go along with his mobility. He showed just what he could do on the floor vs. Moravian Prep Regional. Running the floor, putting the ball on the deck, and finishing strong around the rim on his way to 16 points and 15 rebounds.” – HoopState Championship
“Davis has all the tools, size, length, athleticism, and most importantly a non-stop motor. He is a solid offensive player, but his better defensively which is difficult to state these days. Someone is going to find a hidden gem and Davis is going to be a successful and productive D1 player no matter where he goes.” – Rick Lewis
“He’s probably underrated in the bigger scheme of things, but a long, athletic, 6-foot-9 post prospect has an obvious place at the Division I level. Davis embraces his identity on the block, able to consistently secure position despite a lack of strength, get separation, and utilize his blend of touch and footwork around the basket. He’s also a very reliable two-way rebounder and rim-protector that moves exceptionally well for his size.” – Unsigned Senior Report
Reading things like this, one would think schools would be lining up about the potential but for some reason, his recruitment never really took off. Davis though did hold multiple offers from schools like SC State, Quinnipiac, Mississippi Valley State, and Eastern Michigan, as the Bulldogs of South Carolina State won in the end.
Now, Davis is producing early as a freshman, showing just exactly what we saw last year and the potential he has. He has now become a solid building block for the program in the coming years. As a freshman, Davis is averaging 7.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and shooting 47 percent from the floor, while averaging nearly 20 minutes per game. And though SC State has struggled to secure wins this season, expect Davis to fully be a big part of the future and is showing why early on.
He recently had his best outing early in his career on the road against North Carolina Central, leading the charge with 15 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes. This looks to only be the start of a great career for Davis and is why fans should be excited about the future.