On every dominant basketball team, there is always a player who is unheralded because he is overshadowed by flashier teammates or is known for playing solid, fundamental defense. For Salesian, both of these statements can be said of Davion Mize, who is in his junior year for the Pride and was a sophomore varsity starter as a shooting guard for the team that finished 32-3 with a 54-50 loss to St. Mary's College High in the NorCal semifinal playoffs.
At 6-foot and 165 pounds, Mize considers himself to be a slasher due to his speed that allows him drive the ball with ease but also has the ability to knock down perimeter shots. His defensive aggressiveness is his best skill as he can cause turnovers. As a result, he compares his game to Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis because he is a great defensive player, has speed, can score in different ways, and can rebound.
Mize has been playing basketball since he was 7 years old. His best move offensively is the in and out crossover to get past defenders. During the off season, he works on his jump shot and his offhand moves because it will allow versatility and enhance his overall game. The work has paid off as senior Bryce Thompson has had back problems recently. Coach Bill Mellis put Mize in the starting rotation and has liked what he has seen from his junior.
Coach Mellis says, "Davion's strengths are that he has a balanced offensive game of going strong to the basket and a solid jump shot, especially from 3-point range. He plays very hard and the best part of his game might be at the defensive end. He can really shut down opposing guards using his quickness and anticipation skills. On the court, he works very hard and it is all business for him. At the same time, he really has a passion for the game and you can see it in his play. He is very unselfish and definitely puts winning before any personal statistics."
Mize is unheralded because he is the least recognized of a quartet of Salesian sophomores and duet of Salesian juniors. Jabari Bird, Mario Dunn, Jermaine Edmonds, and Markel Leonard are Salesian sophomores who are ranked in the latest NCP 2013 boys basketball top 40 while Dominic Artis and Freddie Tagaloa are ranked in the NCP class of 2012. If Mize continues to play well, he will get his recognition.
Sophomore teammate Leonard says, "Davion's strengths are his on ball defense, leaping ability, and ability to get to the rim. On the court, he listens and is very hungry. Off the court, he is kind of quiet and likes to have fun."
As a junior, Mize is in contact with Portland, Santa Clara, and UC Santa Barbara. He would like to play for an up tempo pace program that can utilize his skills. He would like to stay on the west coast.
Coach Mellis says, "Off the court, he's liked by all his peers. He has a great personality and while he is outgoing around his friends, he is very respectful toward others, especially his teachers and coaches. Academically, he works hard in the classroom and he is an overall well-rounded caring person. As far as at the NCAA level, he has the potential to play college football or basketball. This year, he plans to play baseball as well, so he's every bit of a well-rounded athlete as he is a person. He will definitely play one of these sports at the next level, but it seems that his passion is with basketball."
D-Mize, what his teammates call him, plays football as a wide receiver but expects to play basketball at the college level. During the summer, he plays for his Richmond Bad Boyz club team. Expect Mize to be a defensive asset that will be the demise of Salesian's opponents in their upcoming playoff run in Richmond.
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