A little more than a year ago, not many people knew who Anthony Davis, Jr. even was.
Davis took home co-MVP honors of the Jordan Brand Classic Saturday with 29 points on 13 of 15 shooting, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Entering last spring's AAU circuit, Davis was a still a virtual unknown. Just a 6-foot-3 guard with a scholarship offer from Cleveland State that had hit a freakish growth spurt, Davis shot up seven inches over roughly a year and into a half into a 6-foot-10 prospect.
But with that kind of change, could his game grow along with his frame? It didn't take long for recruitniks, coaches and scouts to find out. Playing for Chicago-based Mean Streets' AAU sqaud, Davis dominated the grassroots circuits over the spring and summer, leaving no doubt that he was now among one of the nation's best.
After a whirlwind recruitment that saw scholarship offers from Kentucky, DePaul, Ohio State and Syracuse, DePaul, Davis ultimately cast his lot with the Wildcats. National recruiting services had even bumped Davis up to its top overall player in the 2011 class after his play over the last several months.
Now, after being named co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte Saturday night with 29 points on a ridiculous 13 of 15 shooting, 11 rebounds and four blocks (all in 29 minutes), you'd be hard-pressed to find any recruiting analyst or NBA scout that isn't quick to anoint Davis as the next big thing in college basketball and beyond.
It was Davis' second dominant outing in an all-star setting, following up his 16-point, 12-rebound performance in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore. last weekend. He's consistently been a star among stars, also recording 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks in the McDonald's All-American game in Chicago last month.
As a senior at Charter Perspectives High School in Chicago, Davis averaged an insane 32 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocks per game. And the scary thing is, most experts believe Davis is just now starting to scratch the surface of his full potential. Several NBA mock drafts already have him slated as a top pick in next summer's 2012 NBA Draft.
Marrying guard-like skills and soft hands to a 6-10 frame accompanied by a 7-foot-4 wingspan, by merely watching him play, you'd think he was some kind of basketball Frankenstein, made using a pile of random, scrap parts. Davis wields versatility like a Swiss Army Knife.
UK coach John Calipari compares him to former UMass player and longtime NBAer Marcus Camby. Other comparisons include but are not limited to Kevin Garnett, Antonio McDyess and even Kevin Durant.
His meteoric rise from obscurity to perhaps the top prospect in the country has been compared to that of Tracy McGrady, who was a relative unknown before blowing up to become the top overall player in his class by the time he graduated high school over 10 years ago.
But as skilled as he is offensively, it's Davis' impact on the defensive end that is the most immeasurable. He complements his 7-4 reach with impeccable timing both on the ball and from the weakside. He's an elite shot blocker that changes, alters and contests countless others and will be a defensive nightmare for the Cats' opponents next season.
This time a year ago, not many people knew who Davis was. A year later, it's hard not to take notice.
