Anthony Davis (Part 1)

Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. was born on March 11, 1993, and is known by his nickname "AD." He is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Davis primarily plays the power forward and center positions. Throughout his career, he has garnered numerous accolades, including being a nine-time NBA All-Star and being named to four All-NBA First Teams and four NBA All-Defensive Teams.
Davis achieved significant success early in his career, winning the NBA Finals in his first season with the Lakers in 2020. He was also honored by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and winning the inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers in 2023. Regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time, Davis has left an indelible mark on the league.


Before entering the NBA, Davis played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. In his lone season with the team, he earned numerous awards and accolades, including being named first team All-American, Consensus National Player of the Year, USBWA National Freshman of the Year, NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and winning the Pete Newell Big Man Award. Davis led Kentucky to a national championship in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Selected as the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans), Davis made an immediate impact in the league. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after his rookie season and became an All-Star for the first time the following season. Known for his defensive prowess, Davis led the NBA in blocked shots per game in his second season.


Throughout his career, Davis has set numerous records and milestones, including becoming the youngest player to score at least 59 points in an NBA game. In 2017, he was named the recipient of the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award after setting an All-Star Game scoring record of 52 points. Davis has also represented the United States national team, winning gold medals in the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup, making him the first player in basketball history to win an NCAA title, NBA title, Olympic gold medal, and FIBA World Cup.


Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. was born in Chicago and grew up in the Englewood neighborhood. He attended Perspectives Charter School, a math and science academy, where he played basketball. Despite Perspectives' minimal athletic success and lack of a gymnasium, Davis excelled on the court. During his freshman year, he stood at 6 feet tall, but by the beginning of his sophomore year, he had grown to 6 feet 4 inches.
Davis experienced a rapid growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 8 inches by the start of his junior basketball season. Despite his impressive height, Davis initially went unnoticed on the national and local basketball scene while playing for Perspectives. However, he gained attention after joining Tai Streets' Meanstreets AAU team during his junior year.


In August 2010, Davis verbally committed to playing college basketball at the University of Kentucky, choosing it over other schools like DePaul, Ohio State, and Syracuse. However, before committing, there were reports that his father had requested $200,000 from Kentucky in exchange for Davis's commitment. The report sparked controversy, but Anthony Davis Sr. denied the allegations, stating that they had not asked for anything from any school. Despite the controversy, Davis remained committed to Kentucky, where he would go on to have a stellar collegiate career before entering the NBA draft as the first overall pick in 2012.


The controversy surrounding Davis's recruitment continued into his senior year of high school. Reports emerged alleging that Anthony Davis Sr. had asked for money from universities in exchange for his son's commitment. The University of Kentucky and the Davis family threatened legal action against the Chicago Sun-Times over these claims. Despite threats of lawsuits, no legal action was taken, and both parties denied the allegations.
Despite the off-court distractions, Davis continued to excel on the basketball court during his senior year. He signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Kentucky in November 2010. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches tall, Davis dominated high school competition, averaging an impressive 32 points, 22 rebounds, and 7 blocks per game during his senior season.


Davis earned numerous accolades for his outstanding performance in high school basketball, including being selected to prestigious events like the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was also named a first-team All-American by various publications, highlighting his status as one of the top high school basketball players in the country.
In the McDonald's All-American Game held at the United Center in Chicago, Davis showcased his skills in front of a hometown crowd, recording 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. He continued his strong showing in other national events, earning co-MVP honors in the Jordan Brand Classic after scoring 29 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking 4 shots. Despite these individual achievements, his team suffered a loss in the game.

References

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3. ^ Thapa, Aastha (May 20, 2022). "Ten Best Power Forwards Ever in NBA". PlayersBio.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
4. ^ Fujita, Scott (November 10, 2022). "The Best Power Forwards In NBA History: All-Time Rankings". ScottFujita.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
5. a b "Anthony Davis bio: From Chicago to NBA superstar". Los Angeles Times. June 15, 2019. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
6. ^ Evans, Maxwell (July 22, 2019). "'Y'all Should've Told Me Anthony Davis Would Be Here': Englewood's Favorite L.A. Laker Surprises Young Ballers At Nike Rise Camp". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
7. ^ Flores, Ronnie (March 30, 2011). "Anthony Davis welcomes you to Chicago". ESPN HS. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
8. a b c Phillips, Scott (April 29, 2010). "Perspectives' Davis getting noticed; At 6–10, Davis getting noticed at Perspectives". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 51. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. In basketball -crazy Chicago, it's nearly impossible for a potential big-time prospect to go unnoticed the first three years of high school. But by playing for Perspectives in the Public League's Blue-West division, and not playing club ball since eighth grade, 6–10 junior Anthony Davis has remained an unknown. Undiscovered by the litany of talent evaluators and college coaches who frequent Public League gyms, Davis is playing with Mean Streets and has quickly gained recognition on the club circuit. Syracuse offered Davis a scholarship this week and Bucknell, Cleveland State, DePaul and Xavier also have shown interest. In addition, Memphis stopped by Perspectives last week to meet Davis. . .Even with all the attention Davis has received, he will stay at Perspectives for his senior season. 'I've been [at Perspectives] since sixth grade,' Davis said. 'I stayed there for the academic program. I didn't want to leave my team.'
9. O'Brien, Michael (August 5, 2010). "Davis no longer a hidden talent". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 48. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
10. Garcia, Marlen (March 29, 2012). "Kentucky found hidden gem in Anthony Davis". USA Today. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
11. ^ Reaven, Steve (January 27, 2011). "Spotlight Athlete: A New Perspective; Breakout Season Gives Davis New Outlook". Chicago Tribune. p. 10. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
12. ^ Bohn, Rodger (December 23, 2010). "Windy City Warriors: Big talent on display at the Chicago Public School Showcase". SLAM Magazine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
13. a b c Grimala, Mike (March 1, 2011). "Anthony Davis has come a long way in his basketball career". ESPN HS. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
14. ^ Jones, Ryan (December 28, 2010). "Hell of A Life: Anthony Davis has learned that climbing up recruiting lists often comes with increased drama". SLAM Magazine. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
15. ^ O'Brien, Michael (August 14, 2010). "Davis commits to Kentucky". Chicago Sun-Times. Online version entitled "Davis joins dream class at Kentucky" revised March 23, 2011. p. 41. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012.