91970391
In his first two seasons as a starter for Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., forward John Davis masterfully used his limbs to earn consecutive First Team All-Catholic selections. Though eager to extend his secondary site’s dominance, the senior felt he needed to halt pondering his next stop, so he called on another body part Oct. 15 in committing to Maryland’s Towson University.
“It’s the place my heart led me to choose,” the 18-year-old said Friday. “While there, I know I’ll grow to be a better player and will enjoy being a student athlete.”
The resident of Fifth Street and Washington Avenue chose the Colonial Athletic Association institution from among 30 pursuers, mostly East Coast entities enamored with his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame. He paid it his lone official visit two weeks ago, intensifying senses of camaraderie and purpose from his unofficial jaunts.
“The current Towson guys kept saying how much they are looking to welcoming me,” Davis said of their believing he would pick their squad. “I’m really anticipating working with them to build a solid program.”
In hoping to make his soon-to-be school a national presence, the teenager has set himself a large goal, as the Tigers registered only one win last year and typically struggle to best their conference brethren, including Drexel University and the University of Delaware.
“I could have said ‘Yes’ to an offer from somewhere with a better basketball pedigree, but the enthusiasm I noticed among the coaching staff and players was really attractive,” he said.
The skilled left-hander has experienced the opposite existence when courting secondary victories. His East Passyunk Crossing-based Saints have claimed the last four Catholic League and City titles while also capturing three straight PIAA Class AAA state championships. Davis, who played sparingly yet confidently as a freshman, has given coach Carl Arrigale another devotee to selfless play and will team with senior guard Hanif Sutton as co-captains and defenders of their facility’s record-setting 70 straight parochial wins.
“John has made great strides and shown tremendous maturity,” Arrigale said. “He will go down as one of our best.”
Set to enter his 14th campaign guiding the school’s hoopsters, the resident of the 2900 block of South 15th Street noted Davis agonized over the process yet believes the star will approach this year with ease and relaxation. As his present and current locations often rely on perimeter precision, Davis figures to further his wing identity.
“I want to work on my ball handling and guard skills the most,” he said of his primary tasks in helping coach Pat Skeery to see that the Tigers roar to respectability then sovereignty. “I know it’s easy to think I can dominate, but there are always bigger and stronger guys, so I have to be at Towson the way I am at Neumann-Goretti, humble and hungry.”
The Saints tallied a 28-3 mark last season, with Davis amassing 399 points, good for a 12.9 average that placed him behind only now-junior guard Ja’Quan Newton. He failed to reach double digits only twice and pulled in nearly 11 rebounds per contest. His penchant for clutch efforts helped him to average 15.8 points in Neumann-Goretti’s five state tournament affairs and brought him MVP honors at May 30’s Community College of Philadelphia-hosted Wayne Ellington All-City Basketball Classic.
“I’ve never tried to put too much pressure on myself,” Davis said. “I just go out and look to remain calm about what’s in front of me.”
This season’s clearest views would seem to be helping Arrigale to earn his ninth Catholic League championship and molding his younger teammates into willing recipients of their school’s status as a vanguard. The Saints begin their slate Dec. 7, and Davis knows the ever-expanding target on their backs will inspire opponents to gun for upsets.
“We’ll be ready for tough nonleague action, and then we’ll look to expand our Catholic League streak,” he said. “Everyone is looking forward to a typical year, and by typical I mean one where we’re all pulling for one another.”
That mentality should make him many peers at Towson, which is planning to open Tiger Arena, a 5,200-seat capacity facility, in the spring. The new location makes Davis feel more inspired about rebuilding the school’s reputation, as it offers a literal example of novelty.
“I want fans to find us entertaining and have no doubt they will,” he said.
While not dribbling, he will be scribbling notes as either a business or sports management major. The former appeals to him because of his desire to create his own construction company, with the latter coming from his interest in athletics’ financial facets.
“Whatever he does, he will do it with a relentless motor,” Arrigale said. “His will is every bit as strong, if not stronger than, his skill.”
“It’s all about growth from here on in,” Davis said. “Humble and hungry.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
91970411
91970401
