Anthony Davis is having a season-long block party.
The likely No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis scored 27 points and blocked seven shots Tuesday night to set a new single-season school blocks record as No. 2 Kentucky beat Arkansas, 86-63, at Rupp Arena.
“I know they’re definitely thinking about it when they come in the hole and they’ve got to shoot the ball,” said Davis, who had 14 rebounds. “It’s definitely in their mind – where’s Anthony Davis?
Davis blocked his 84th shot with just under 5 minutes left in the first half when he turned away freshman B.J. Young’s layup to set the record previously held by Melvin Turpin and matched by Andre Riddick. He now has 89 blocks on the season.
Davis has blocked at least two shots in every game this season. He entered the game leading the nation with 4.6 blocks per game.
“I didn’t even know how many blocks I had,” Davis said. “I can’t keep up, the game goes so fast. I just want to block every shot.”
Davis finished 10 of 12 from the field, his best game with at least 10 attempts of his 19-game career and went 7 for 8 from the free throw line. He got a standing ovation with 4:23 left with his seventh and final block, an emphatic swat of Julysses Nobles’ shot into the front row.
“I remember one time he just told his guys, ‘Just bring him in here, I’m going to block everything,”‘ Arkansas guard Mardracus Wade said.
With his ability to not only block shots, but re-direct them in Russell-esque fashion and then catch the rebound, it’s not hard to understand why NBA scouts are salivating over Davis, who only a couple of a years ago was a 6-2 guard before shooting up eight inches.
Now, it appears only a matter of time before NBA Commissioner David Stern announces his name as the first pick in the Draft.
(The AP contributed)
