AURORA | The rim at Indiana University measures 10 feet from the floor, the same as it does at Mississippi State.
Only one of those rims will have De’Ron Davis dunking on them in the future, however, as Overland’s star center signed his National Athletic Letter of Intent to become a Hoosier at an afternoon ceremony Thursday at Overland High School.
In front of an eager crowd, the 6-foot-10 Davis — a four-star recruit who has been one of the country’s most sought-after players since he entered the high school ranks — revealed his choice of Indiana, which had offered him a scholarship just before he started playing in high school and kept pursuing him ever since.
Davis, the 2014-15 Aurora Sentinel Player of the Year who helped Overland win its first Class 5A state basketball championship last season, resisted a strong late overture from Mississippi State, which leapfrogged a couple of schools on his previous short list. Davis said a few words on the microphone, then eagerly picked up the Indiana cap sitting on the table in front of him and pulled it on.
“It’s big, especially going away from my mom; I lost my dad at a young age, so my mom is everything and it’s important for me to have a home foundation,” Davis said of the long relationship with Indiana coach Tom Crean and his staff.
“That’s what I as looking at and Indiana made me feel at home.”
Indiana finished 20-14 overall in the 2014-15 season, qualifying for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, where it lost to Wichita State in the opening round. Crean has coached the Hoosiers since 2008 and led them to three straight NCAA tournament appearances.
Davis noted the passion of the Indiana fans, many of which have lobbied him hard over social media throughout the Hoosiers’ pursuit of him.
“The fans are always crazy, they ride or die for their team win or lose and that’s what I like,” Davis said.
Davis’ mother, Terri Latson, beamed from ear to ear as her son revealed his choice.
“I am very thankful,” Latson said. “De’Ron has a long journey ahead, but he needs to stay hungry and humble.”
Overland head boys basketball Danny Fisher said he wasn’t overly concerned with Davis making his choice before, during or after the season, but he felt the timing worked out just perfectly.
“I was good either way because he’s so mature; basketball is what he does, so he was going to come out and lay it on the line regardless,” Fisher said. “But I am happy for mind state. He can just focus on being a student, going to class every day and trying to be normal.
“As normal as a 6-foot-10 All-American kid can be.”
With the decision now out of the way, Davis is ready to attack his senior season and try to lead the Trailblazers to a second straight 5A state title.
He said he got back in the gym working just three days after Overland won last season’s state championship and has added a lot to his already impressive game.
“I’m trying to go out and show my stuff; I’ve been working and putting in a lot of time, so I’m excited to show ya’ll what I’ve got in store,” Davis said with a smile. “I’m trying to expand my game and I’m trying to be the most unguardable player, basically.”
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
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