Davis Headed to Presbyterian College

Ardrey Kell High School senior basketball player Kevin Davis is always ready for a new challenge.  Following high school graduation in the spring, Kevin will head to Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC to begin what most would call a mountain of a challenge. The son of George and Cherita Davis, Davis recently made a verbal commitment to Presbyterian Head Basketball Coach Gregg Nibert to help the Blue Hose build a successful NCAA Division 1 basketball program.  After competing for decades in the South Atlantic Conference against teams like Catawba College, Wingate and Newberry, Presbyterian makes the move to Division 1 this season.  The 2007-08 Presbyterian basketball schedule includes; Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Clemson, Ohio State, Winthrop, Nebraska, Auburn and Georgia.    If the 08-09 schedule matches this season, Kevin will be in for quite the challenge his freshman season.

Basketball hasn’t always been the sport of choice for Kevin.   As a youngster he played basketball, baseball and football.

“I never thought basketball was my sport.  When I was 12 or 13, I began to realize that by working hard at basketball, I could improve.  At that point, I became more serious and began to focus on basketball.”

The decision paid off as Kevin and current Ardrey Kell teammate Jordan Darnell led the Jay M. Robinson Middle School team to a successful season as eighth graders.

Kevin then entered Providence High School where he continued to work hard and improve his game.  As a tenth grader he started four games on the varsity team for head coach Myron Lowery.

“Coach Lowery was great to work with.  I wasn’t mature enough when I entered Providence, at times I would just go through the motions.  He worked with me and helped me to grow up as a player and a person.”

During the summer following his tenth grade year, Kevin played a busy schedule of AAU basketball.  His speed and ability to drive to the basket caught the eyes of coaches from around the region.  Kevin closed out a successful summer by earning a spot on the recruiting radar.

With Ardrey Kell High School scheduled to open for Kevin’s junior season, it was time for another challenge.  Kevin knew many of his new classmates, but the coach, Mike Craft was all new. 

“I knew Coach Craft had a lot of college coaching experience and I was excited to learn more from him.”

Coach Craft has very high words of praise for his player.

“Kevin Davis is a tri-captain this year and we will be counting on him for leadership.  He has taken care of business in the classroom and is going to a great school in Presbyerian. 
Kevin has come a long way since the first time I saw him play last summer. He has really worked on his game and bought into everything that we are about at Ardrey Kell.”

Coach Craft helped Kevin record a super junior season as the Knights improved with every game.  Using Kevin’s ball handling and scoring abilities, the team always played hard and pulled a few upsets during their inaugural season.  Kevin’s play attracted a few more college coaches.  By the end of the school year, Presbyterian, Wofford, Lenoir-Ryne, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and College of Charleston had all made contact with Kevin.

Kevin accepted Coach Nibert’s offer to visit the campus on Labor Day Weekend.  The visit went well, Kevin loved everything about the school and at the close of the visit he accepted Coach Nibert’s scholarship offer to play basketball for The Presbyterian College Blue Hose.

“I am real excited about my decision.  Presbyterian won 25 games last year, they are making the move to Division 1 and they aren’t to far away from home. I am really happy to have the decision behind me so I can focus on my senior year.”

Kevin feels very upbeat about the season ahead.

“With everyone returning from last year, I believe we will have a good season.  I want to step up for Coach Craft and help us to play team basketball.  I want to show folks what we can do this year.  Our football team worked hard and started off 4-0, surprising a lot of people.  I want the same for basketball.”

In addition to succeeding on the basketball court, Kevin has done well in class.  His GPA is very close to 3.5 and during the fourth quarter of last year, he achieved a 4.0 weighted GPA.   He hopes to one day work in sports law or with a sports related business.

The South Charlotte Spots Report congratulates Kevin Davis for working hard and earning a Division 1 athletic scholarship.  Kevin is a friendly, upbeat young man and we wish him the best in the future!