Eagles’ Davis signs with Champion
Cutter Morning Star High School senior Ahmod Davis signed his national letter of intent to play basketball for Champion Christian College on Thursday, becoming the third player in three years from the Eagles to continue their basketball playing career after high school.
Cutter Morning Star head basketball coach Beau Brickell said three in three years is good for the program.
“Hayden McDougal had an opportunity at Champion our first year,” he said. “You get three guys in three years that have had an opportunity. We are kind of working on one more, so it could be four guys in three years. Just proud of where we are at… guys getting an opportunity to play at the next level. I think Coach (Nick) Finley told me it was 3% get to play college basketball out of the entire country.”
Davis expressed how it feels to go from an Eagle to a Tiger.
“It feels amazing, especially to be signing with Champion because, obviously, basketball is amazing but relationships are more important,” he said. “I feel like I am in the best position to build better relationships.”
Champion Christian College head coach Mo Capaci said he loves being able to sign local talent.
“It is really exciting because not only do you have that family support there locally, but on top of that you are getting a phenomenal kid,” he said. “Coach Beau Brickell, we have had a working relationship, we get some camps together in the summer. (Davis) has been a part of all of those.
“I have got to see him the last two or three years. Even as a (sophomore), seeing him coming in that summer working with kids, you can tell he is a special person more than just an athlete. I am excited to have him. He is going to be a great program kid and represent Champion really well and that is the main thing I am excited about.”
Davis said he will train in the offseason to prepare for college hoops, noting he will spend more time in the weight room as well as eat and run more.
Brickell highlighted Davis’ game.
“Basketball is one of those things where you have to overcome things a lot quicker than other sports,” he said. “You make a bad play in football, you have got 25-35 seconds to think about it. You make a bad play in baseball, you might have 10 minutes to think about it. … In basketball it is such a quick turnaround, but his ability to overcome adversity no matter what takes place…
“He makes a bucket, he is smiling and he is on the other end. He turns the ball over, he is smiling, he is on the other end. He takes pride in both ends of the floor. Just honestly his motor stands out in his abilities to let the last play be the last play really quickly.”
Capaci said he has seen Davis in action and saw a lot of effort.
Davis noted he is looking to study engineering or sports journalism at Champion. He said the college really stuck out in his mind.
“Relationships are a big thing for me and I feel like they came to me friendly, loved me,” he said. “Family-wise, I feel like I can build that connection with all of the coaches.”
Davis said his parents were very proud of him.
“They were super proud,” he said. “They were thinking, which college am I going to go to? What am I going to do after high school? Once I got this opportunity they were proud of me.”
Brickell expressed how proud he was for Davis, calling him a “once-in-a-lifetime guy.”
“I hope I coach more like him,” he said. “I pray that I coach more like him. I am just not real confident that I will. On and off the floor he is first class. He is a culture creator. He is a culture builder. He brings others along with him. He makes everybody else around him, including his coaches better. I am just as happy as I can be (Thursday) that he is going to get an opportunity to play basketball at the next level.”