Every morning at 5am, Jamaal Davis makes the journey from his sleepy Antioch home to the local lake, Lake Alhambra. He then runs three miles, goes to school for his 6am practice, academic classes run from 8am to 2pm. Then, it's basketball practice from 3pm to 6pm. Finally, Davis goes home to have dinner and goes to sleep to repeat the process again the next day.
So, why would a high school student go through such a rigorous schedule every weekday for the past three years? Davis says, "Basketball is my life. I don't just want to make it to the next level, but I want to be an effective player in college." That level of commitment can definitely be seen on the hard courts.
For the Antioch High Panthers of the Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL), it is a good thing that basketball is life for Davis. As a junior, this Panther averaged 15 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game that helped Antioch to a 19-9 season that ended with a 62-45 loss to Newark in the playoffs.
Antioch High Coach John Woolery says about Davis' strengths, "Jamaal has good quickness and is athletic with a knack for making big shots. Jamaal is very competitive and relishes the big moment. He plays extremely hard." Davis would like to win league MVP and then lead his team to the league title and a run at state title. He will be supported by his Panther teammates, Mike Crawley and Namuji Madoshi.
Davis started playing basketball when he was six years old and was on varsity when he was a sophomore. At 6-foot and 162 pounds and being able to run 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he considers himself to be an all-around point guard who can do it all in terms of scoring, playing defense, and being a solid floor general. He considers his best move to be his crossover dribble that allows him to create his own jump shot or to take the ball to the basket. As a result, he compares his game to that of two young NBA stars, Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose, because Davis has an effective perimeter shot while he has the mobility to get to the rim.
During his summers and downtime, Davis works on his conditioning and perimeter shooting because he believes that an effective guard needs to be on the court with the legs to hit the open jumpers. This past summer, he played with his club team Richmond Bad Boyz.
This Panther has not been running in circles around Lake Alhambra in vain. Chico State, Portland, Portland State, USF, Saint Mary's, Santa Clara, and Washington State have noticed his efforts. He has made unofficial visits to USF, Saint Mary's, and Santa Clara. USF and Saint Mary's have piqued his interest as both coaching staffs have treated him well and shown the most interest. Coach Woolery says, "I think Jamaal could play at the next level if he continues to improve his playmaking ability, gets stronger, and is placed in the right situation."
Davis would love to play in the Pac-10 or WCC conferences but is open to anywhere. Academically, Davis has a 3.00 GPA and has not taken the SATs yet. He would like to be an Engineer as his favorite subject is Math. Expect this basketball lifer to be heard in Antioch and beyond during this upcoming season.
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