Well-rounded Davis to lead Walnut Ridge
Versatility is something that VonCameron Davis thrives on, whether on or off the court.
With his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and skill set, the Walnut Ridge junior is built to do it all.
“Of course, I’m always working hard every day to improve every single facet of my game,” he said, “but I can shoot it, handle it, defend, play any position on the floor … plus I’ve got good footwork, I’m strong, athletic and have a high basketball IQ.”
The left-hander, who has put on 25 pounds of what he calls “good weight” in the offseason, also can score a little. He is approaching 1,000 career points. He averaged 22.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, while shooting 63 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range last season.
But it didn’t always come that easy. Davis said he “really wasn’t very good” until eighth grade when he started growing and working harder on his game.
“My mom has always said, ‘Do it to win it,’ and I’ve always been a very competitive person,” Davis said. “Once I started working hard on my game, I started seeing success. Ever since my freshman year, I’ve been thinking about getting a scholarship.”
That’s a virtual certainty now. He already holds eight offers, mostly from Mid-American Conference-sized programs, and he would like to show them even more.
“I get after it every day,” he said.
He would get no argument from firstyear coach Chuck Jefferson, who graduated from Walnut Ridge in 2003 and served as an assistant for two seasons under Jason Bates until following him to Pickerington North.
“Being an alum, I’ve always kept tabs on what’s going on here, and, of course, I’ve had an eye on Von from a distance,” Jefferson said. “The thing that impresses me most about him is his work ethic. You can find him here a lot of mornings at 5 a.m. working out. He wants to be the most complete basketball player he can be and is not afraid to put in the work to do it.”
Davis is one of three starters and several key role players returning for the Scots, who went 12-9 last season and hope to contend for the City League South title. The last time Walnut Ridge won the City League title, in 1971, it went on to win the state championship. The Scots finished 9-5 in the City South in 2017-18.
“The former coach, Brian Shininger, did a nice coaching job here building a gritty mindset in this guys,” Jefferson said. “My objective is for us to execute on both ends and play with energy and passion. Von, obviously, will be a focal point of what we do. He has become more a guard, but he has the potential to cause mismatches by playing at any of several positions. One thing I’d like to see him do is become more of a leader.”
In the offseason, Davis is a competitive swimmer and he has worked as a lifeguard for several summers. He also is an honor student.
“Swimming has helped build my endurance, flexibility and toughness,” Davis said. “I can run up and down the court forever. This past summer might have been my last summer competing (in swimming), though. It’s all about basketball now.” VonCameron Davis dunks during a scrimmage against New Albany on Monday. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 22.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for Walnut Ridge last season.