Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Anthony Davis is ranked as the No. 2 power forward in the Class of 2011, yet hardly anyone knew who he was before this spring.
After growing seven inches in a year, Davis is now 6 feet, 9 inches and 187 pounds.
“He went through a major, major growth spurt,” said Anthony Davis Sr. “He’s eating us out of house and home, for sure. He just won’t gain the weight.”
Davis burst onto the national scene this past spring and was named Most Promising Prospect at the recent NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va.
“It’s a great award,” Davis said by phone from the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in Chicago. He will also soon play at the LeBron James Academy in Akron, Ohio.
“It feels good knowing that they say that I”m really working hard.”
Davis plays at Chicago Perspectives Charter School, hardly a national hoops powerhouse. Yet with a 7-foot-2 wing span and the ability to hit short jumpers, score from the wing and in the post, Davis is making major waves.
He has transitioned from a shooting guard to a combo forward as he has gotten taller.
“He’s gotten bigger,” said his father. “He has to face up and do a lot of post-ups instead of just shooting. He’s a adapted well to the position.”
“I see myself more as a three,” added Davis. “I like playing the wing instead of down low. I can shoot the ball and put in on the floor when I have to.”
Davis said he’s learning from Durant how to use his lower legs instead of his torso to generate power.
“He’s teaching us how to stay low when you get the ball,” Davis said. “When we are dribbling we have to stay low and when we’re coming up use your legs instead of our torso.”
Davis lists Ohio State, Kentucky, Syracuse, Kansas, Kansas State, Duke and North Carolina as his suitors but says he has no favorite. His father also mentioned Georgia Tech, Illinois and Memphis.
“We’ll probably be taking some visits in late August,” Anthony Sr. said.
“We’ll probably go see Kentucky, Memphis, Georgia Tech, Duke and North Carolina. He’s already been to Ohio State, Illinois and Purdue.”
(Photo courtesy Rivals.com)
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Anthony Davis is ranked as the No. 2 power forward in the Class of 2011, yet hardly anyone knew who he was before this spring.
After growing seven inches in a year, Davis is now 6 feet, 9 inches and 187 pounds.
“He went through a major, major growth spurt,” said Anthony Davis Sr. “He’s eating us out of house and home, for sure. He just won’t gain the weight.”
Davis burst onto the national scene this past spring and was named Most Promising Prospect at the recent NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va.
“It’s a great award,” Davis said by phone from the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in Chicago. He will also soon play at the LeBron James Academy in Akron, Ohio.
“It feels good knowing that they say that I”m really working hard.”
Davis plays at Chicago Perspectives Charter School, hardly a national hoops powerhouse. Yet with a 7-foot-2 wing span and the ability to hit short jumpers, score from the wing and in the post, Davis is making major waves.
He has transitioned from a shooting guard to a combo forward as he has gotten taller.
“He’s gotten bigger,” said his father. “He has to face up and do a lot of post-ups instead of just shooting. He’s a adapted well to the position.”
“I see myself more as a three,” added Davis. “I like playing the wing instead of down low. I can shoot the ball and put in on the floor when I have to.”
Davis said he’s learning from Durant how to use his lower legs instead of his torso to generate power.
“He’s teaching us how to stay low when you get the ball,” Davis said. “When we are dribbling we have to stay low and when we’re coming up use your legs instead of our torso.”
Davis lists Ohio State, Kentucky, Syracuse, Kansas, Kansas State, Duke and North Carolina as his suitors but says he has no favorite. His father also mentioned Georgia Tech, Illinois and Memphis.
“We’ll probably be taking some visits in late August,” Anthony Sr. said.
“We’ll probably go see Kentucky, Memphis, Georgia Tech, Duke and North Carolina. He’s already been to Ohio State, Illinois and Purdue.”
(Photo courtesy Rivals.com)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
