DAVONTE DAVIS

Lighthouse star on point, has NBA goals

Abasketball player at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School is garnering attention from some big-time college basketball programs. Davonte Davis, a sophomore for the Wolves, averaged 16 points and 7 assists a game as a freshman in leading Lighthouse to conference and regional championships, as well as the semifinals of the Class 2A state tournament last season. He is the 2017-18 Three River Edition Boys Basketball Player to Watch. “Davonte can do anything and everything he wants to do on the basketball court,” Lighthouse coach Kelvin Parker said. “If I need him to be a facilitator and get everybody involved, he’ll do it. If I need him to get a bucket, he’s going to get that. If I need him to stop someone and play the big man, stop their best player, he’ll do that. He’ll take on that challenge. “He’ll do whatever it takes to help the team out.” Parker said Davis has grown 4 inches since the end of the last season. He is now 6 feet 3 inches. “He’s gotten stronger, so I think the sky is the limit for him,” Parker said. “He’s got an NBA future if he keeps his nose straight and hits those books. He’s got good grades. He’s getting ready to take the ACT. He’s going right.” Parker said that in his three-year tenure at the school, Davis is the best player he’s coached. “He will have the best upside,” Parker said. Davis, 16, has been playing basketball since he was 5 years old. “I love the game,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I was little and my mom put a basketball in my hands.” The Wolves had a first-round bye in the Class 2A state tournament last year. They beat East Poinsett County 64-62 in the second round. Davis led his team with 20 points. In the Wolves’ semifinals loss to Earle, Davis scored 21 points. Davis said his strengths are his passing, seeing everyone up the court and his midrange jumper. His weakness is his 3-point shooting. “Shooting has been my challenge some games,” he said. “Some games I’m on. Shooting the 3 is my weakness.” As a ninth-grader, Davis said, the start of the season was tough. “It was tough at the beginning of the year because everyone was bigger than me,” he said. “As the season went on, I felt like I could compete with the high school players.” The Wolves have a tough schedule, and Davis said he enjoys that. “There are some hard-playing teams,” he said. “Some players like me don’t get the opportunity in the ninth grade to play varsity. I took advantage and did what I had to do.” Davis started every game at point guard. “My teammates trust me, so I love to compete as a point guard,” he said. “And maybe I’ll be one of the best point guards in the state and keep working hard.” This is Davis’ third year at Lighthouse. Prior to attending the charter school, he attended Jacksonville Middle School. “At Jacksonville, I didn’t learn as much,” he said. “Here, they help us with our work. We take Advanced Placement classes, so I think that will help me get ready for college.” As far as college, Davis is an A-B student. He’s also drawn interest from some of the top programs in the country, including the University of Arkansas, the University of Florida, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the University of Southern Mississippi and Abilene Christian University in Texas. “I’ve wanted to be in the NBA since I was small,” Davis said. “If I keep working hard and carry the load on my back, I think I’ll be able to accomplish my goal.” Davis also played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Arkansas Wings program, one of the best in the country. “There is a lot of talent,” Davis said. Last summer, Davis said, he played on the Nike Basketball circuit. “It definitely makes you tougher on the court,” he said. Davis said that for the Lighthouse Wolves to have a chance to win the Class 2A state title, they must work together. “With this team this year, I think everybody on the court needs to rebound,” he said. “Everybody needs to hustle more than we did last year. I think we should play together, and I think we can get to the state championship and win it. “That would be a very big accomplishment.”