News Sports Opinion Photos Social Classified Obits Contact
 
 
 

The Best to Ever Play Here?: Last week's highly anticipated arrival of JD Davison came to fruition. The point guard for Calhoun is regarded as the best player in Alabama.

The recruiting services rate him as a top ten player nationally speaking. Every college team in the country wanted him. Alabama got him. Getting five-stars in basketball in Tuscaloosa doesn't come as easy as it does for the football program.

The recruting services haven't been around forever, but according to their ranking system, Davison is the best player to ever play at Stumberg Gym.

Davison can back up the acclaim with his skills. No, he didn't have one of those 60-point games. He had 19. Still, he has all the game that makes him a top prospect.

He can jump out of the gym. He's good with the ball in his hands. He can distribute the ball. He was unselfish in dishing to his teammates in the 70-55 win over Tallassee.

He can rebound. He can block shots. He creates turnovers. He can play down on the post and step outside. His outside shot was off the mark last Thursday, but with a 44-points per game average, I'm sure they've been falling this season.

Davison says he's been balling since the age of three. He played with the bigger kids. He sprouted up to 6-3. That certainly helps.

Everything fell into place for the self-proclaimed gym rat. You do have to put in the time to reap the rewards too - even if you've got the God-given talent.

The sky is the limit for Davison having a future in baketball. Five-star players are "one-and-done" guys many times. John Calipari has a model on one-and-done guys at Kentucky.

So, will that be the case for Davison? Will it be one year in T-Town and then on to the NBA? That's quite a lot to think about for a high school senior in Letohatchee.

If you're lucky enough to become a first-rounder in the NBA, you're an instant millionaire.

The rookie contracts for last year's top 30 picks ranged from just over $44 million for the No. 1 pick to a touch under $10 million for the 30th. These are four-year contracts.

Kira Lewis Jr. was one of those drafted in the first round last year. He too was a highly-touted point guard from this state who played at Alabama - although not quite as highly touted as Davison (he was a four-star).

Lewis was the 39th rated prospect by 247 Sports. The ranking service has Davison ranked No. 9 overall this year.

Lewis now plays in New Orleans. He was the 13th pick in the draft. He now makes over $3 million per year. His contract is worth $17.18 million.

It's safe to bet that there will be a lot of people tugging at Davison's jersey in the years to come. Maybe he can become the next great one.