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Pirates' Davis in high demand

The phone won't stop ringing as recruiters try to grab the two-sport athlete's attention.

By IZZY GOULD
Published December 16, 2005

DADE CITY - Exam week for Darrell Davis is a little tougher than in past years.

Some may think that's the price the Pasco senior should pay for being a star athlete.

His days as a normal student ended last spring.

Relaxed weekends? Forget it. He hasn't enjoyed one of those in weeks.

Davis' cell phone rings constantly as college coaches get more desperate to fill their scholarships.

When Davis answers his phone, it's a minimum 20-minute business conversation with some recruiter.

How are your grades? What about your classes? Did you get good test scores? What about the NCAA Clearinghouse?

Those questions get old, fast. Especially when you want a day to just breath.

"To be Darrell Davis today is to be kind of confused and to have things coming at you from different angles," Davis said. "There's a lot of pros and cons. There's so many different things, you have to sit down and think."

The latest wrinkle is Davis' thoughts on playing college basketball. He's considering it after having ruled it out a few weeks ago.

He has 46 days to choose between football and basketball, and to choose a college.

How's he handling it?

"It's the life of an elite player," Pasco coach Poncho Broner said. "I know how hectic it is. He's doing okay, as well as he can do. As tough as it's going to be, he still has to stay focused."

The latest school to catch Davis' ear was Charleston Southern. Davis said the school wants him for football and basketball.

Basketball coaches are interested in Pasco County's leading scorer because of his 30 points per game, size and ability.

"There's still the possibility in the back of my mind that I really want to play basketball," Davis said. "There's the possibility I want to play football. I'm blessed because I have all these opportunities."

Through all the confusion Davis arguably has been the top player this season in Pasco, bullying teams with his post play.

A 90-85 loss to previously winless River Ridge made observers do a double take.

A closer examination of the box score made it a triple take. Davis scored 39 in the loss despite missing most of the first quarter. He was knocked out after a dunk attempt on the opening tip.

Davis' head slammed to the floor. He took some aspirin and returned toward the end of the quarter to pick up three quick fouls.

"I didn't really get into the flow until the second half," Davis said.

Broner expects strong efforts each night.

Pasco needs to lean on Davis if it hopes to reach its goals - another 20-win season and a strong playoff push.

Broner said Davis' role is similar to last year. He grabs rebounds, starts fastbreaks and works hard in the paint.

Davis' explosive athleticism has drawn interest from schools such as Florida State, Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb for basketball, and N.C. State, South Florida, Central Florida and Florida for football.

Davis has held off on committing because he wants his promise to be solid.

"I want to give every possible thought to every possible decision. It doesn't matter how big they are. You want to go for the real reasons. Are you going to play? ... How will you fit in academically?

"Each school is different."

Davis has a meeting every week with his mother and father. He tells them what's going through his mind. They try to keep him focused.

Those are the key decision-makers.

Davis insists there's little outside influence that affects his decision.

"They're not going to be with me at 8 in the morning going to class," Davis said. "They won't be going to study, working out, busting it with me. I just sit there and let them talk."

Contact Izzy Gould at 813 909-4612 or sportsjournalist@gmail.com

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:54:19]