FILE – Roberts’ Max Abmus (3) beats Duane Washington Jr. (4) and EJ Liddell (32) of Ohio State University in the second half of the first round game of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2021. Lay up in between. McKee Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. Abmus averaged 26.7 points in his three games of the NCAA Tournament in 2021, and Oral before losing to Arkansas in the Sweet 16. He helped Roberts defeat Ohio State and Florida State. appeared on the scene. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin, File)
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Detroit Mercy guard Antoine Davis could end his career as one of the most prolific scorers and 3-point shooters in college basketball history.
Davis is more concerned with qualifying for the NCAA Tournament that has so far eluded him.
The 6.1-foot Davis entered the transfer portal in the offseason, but opted to play one more season for his father. Mike Davis played in four of his six seasons at Texas State University, where he made it to the NCAA Tournament before moving to Detroit. not.
“I experienced it as a spectator, but not as a player,” Antoine Davis said, remembering his father’s time coaching at Texas State University. “It’s been tough, but I’m looking forward to this season. We’re all on the same page. We all want to do the same thing. I think we can make it happen.”
Reaching the NCAA Tournament is the only thing Antoine Davis hasn’t accomplished in his illustrious college career. He will enter his 2022-23 season as one of the most notable players in the intermediate or lower program.
Davis scored 2,734 career points, ranking 22nd in Division I history. was the lowest average of his career. Davis averaged 26.1 points in the 2018-19 season, 24.3 points in the 2019-20 season and 24.0 points in the 2020-21 season.
If Davis matches last season’s output of 694 points, he would be the second-ever career finisher. Pete Maravich holds the record for his 3,667 points scored in his three-season career with LSU from 1967 to 1970.
His 429 career 3-pointers are just 80 away from the Division I record. Fletcher McGee made his 509th three-pointer at Wofford from 2015 to his 2019.
Davis has scored in double figures for 111 straight games. The Division I record of 115 is shared by Campbell’s Chris Clemons (2016-19) and LaSalle’s Lionel Simmons (1987-90).
The extra season of qualification Davis has received due to the pandemic has helped him come closer to those records. increase. Davis is already the first-ever player to win Horizon League first-team honors over four of his seasons.
Davis devoted himself to Houston during high school, but changed his mind and chose Texas State University to play for his father. His father has his 397-310 career record and led Indiana to his 2002 NCAA tournament final. When his father took his Mercy job in Detroit, Davis ended up enrolling there instead.
“He knows my game better than anyone,” Davis said. “He’s trained me for years and years. He knows everything I can do. It doesn’t have to be something different. I’m a big part of his system. Ultimately, I wanted to play for him.”
He was considering leaving the Detroit Mercy and the Horizon League this year. Davis entered the transfer portal and, after heavy consideration of BYU and Kansas State University, chose to finish the college career he had started.
“It would be a little daunting to play somewhere else and end your career somewhere else,” Davis said. “That’s ultimately why I came back.”
Other players in mid- or lower-level programs worth noting:
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
Abmus came onto the scene in 2021, averaging 26.7 points over three games in the NCAA Tournament, helping Oral Roberts defeat Ohio State and Florida State before losing to Arkansas in the Sweet 16. Abmas ranked fifth last season averaging 22.8 points. His 3-pointers of his 3.8 per game ranked him third.
Honest Carey, Kent
Duquesne’s transfer, Carey, was the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in his first season at Kent State. The 6-1 guard ranked him second on the MAC in assists (4.8) and fifth on the MAC in points scored (17.9), making his team the MAC’s All-Defensive.
Aaron Estrada, Hofstra
The move to Oregon State was the Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Year last season in his first year at Hofstra. Estrada led the CAA in points (18.5) and assists (5.0), he had 5.7 rebounds and he had 1.5 steals per game.
Tosan Embwan, Princeton
He’s a 6.8-foot forward, but had 5.1 assists per game in the Ivy League last season. He was named Ivy Player of the Year. England’s Newcastle native Hv Omwan also ranked fourth in the league in points scored (16.0), rebounds (6.7) and steals (1.4).
Darius Magee, Liberty
McGhee has been named ASUN Player of the Year for the past two seasons. He averaged 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his 2021-22. He led all Division I players with his 142 three-pointers, and in points per game he ranked second.
Jordan “Jerry” Walker, UAB
After starting his career at Seton Hall and playing for Tulane for two seasons, Walker has found a home at UAB. Walker last season in Division I ranked him eighth in 3-points per game (3.41) and 16th in points-per-game (20.3), earning Conference USA honors in both categories. was leading He was named Conference USA Player of the Year.
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This story was originally published November 2, 2022 at 1:58 AM.
