Sharp: MSU's Deyonta Davis the next one-and-done casualty?
Davis said many of the right things at the NBA draft combine in Chicago, if you could just hear the 19-year-old speak
Sharp: MSU's Deyonta Davis the next one-and-done casualty? Davis said many of the right things at the NBA draft combine in Chicago, if you could just hear the 19-year-old speak Check out this story on Freep.com: http://on.freep.com/1Te16DF
Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press Columnist Published 12:08 a.m. ET May 13, 2016
Deyonta Davis speaks at the NBA draft combine in Chicago on Thursday. "I'll be going against grown men who are doing this for a living," he said.(Photo: Mark Snyder DFP)Buy Photo
CHICAGO – Deer meets headlights.
That was the look on Deyonta Davis' face during the first introduction to his new world. A throng of quote-starved reporters converged upon his little table Thursday as he addressed the media at the start of the NBA draft combine. The 19-year-old's eyes popped wide and white at the deluge of probing questions seeking a little insight into the former Michigan State freshman's inner drive.
Fear isn't a good first impression when attempting to impress a bunch of NBA executives and scouts.
"No," Davis initially said when asked if he was a little nervous. "Maybe a little."
It's a culture shock for a shy kid from Muskegon. There are occasions when it's hard hearing Davis even with the benefit of amplification. One league scout observing the interview session cupped his ear attempting to hear Davis' answers. He asked a reporter afterward if Davis always spoke that softly, suggesting that somebody needs to instruct the young man to talk more forcefully or risk the perception of a problem.
Welcome to Big Boy School, Deyonta.
NBA combine in Chicago
Denzel Valentine, from Michigan State, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Ben Bentil, from Providence, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Deandre Bembry, from St. Joseph's, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Jake Layman, from Maryland, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Stephen Zimmerman, from UNLV, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Perry Ellis, from Kansas, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Brice Johnson, from North Carolina, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Georges Niang, foreground, from Iowa State, participate in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Kyle Wiltjer, from Gonzaga, left, and Georges Niang, from Iowa State, participate in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, left, talks with Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, during the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Sam Perkins, left, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, center, and Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, talk during the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press
Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine speaks to reporters May 13, 2016, at the NBA combine in Chicago. Mark Snyder, DFP
Tyler Ulis, from Kentucky, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine, Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Kay Felder, of Oakland University, tests his vertical jump at the NBA combine in Chicago on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Felder posted a 35.5-inch standing vertical, and his 44-inch max vertical is the second-best in combine history. Mark Snyder, DFP
Zhou Qi, from China, is seen on two mobile devises as Qi participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Melo Trimble, from Maryland, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Chattin Hill, left, strength and conditioning coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, talks to an interpreter for Zhou Qi, from China, as Qi participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Ron Baker, from Wichita State, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Malachi Richardson, from Syracuse, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine, Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Wade Baldwin, from Vanderbilt, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Iowa's Jarrod Uthoff participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Josh Hart, from Villanova, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Demetrius Jackson, from Notre Dame, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine, Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird watches participants at the NBA draft basketball combine, Thursday, May 12, 2016, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Appearances matter. Conclusions are drawn, sometimes from misinformation. And they can stick. Little things could have big consequences. But that's how these predraft meat markets roll. You've got 30 teams assembled here over the next few days looking for as many reasons not to like a prospect as to like him. And it becomes especially tricky with 19-year-old potential lottery picks entrusted with the responsibility of physically engaging every day with grown men in games and practice.
One problem with the one-and-done is too many freshmen think they've "made it" by simply getting their name called in the first round and inking that first multimillion-dollar contract. Nobody faults them for wanting to get paid — particularly in a sport that generates billions in annual television revenues while the players risk getting in trouble with the NCAA for putting cream cheese instead of peanut butter on a bagel.
But you hope Davis doesn't become another statistic, another casualty of short-term gratification. He gets the first contract. But he barely plays and is soon banished to Development League purgatory or he's out of the league altogether wondering how those millions so quickly got flushed down the drain.
He says he's ready for the challenges.
"It hit me as soon as I let it out to the media that I was done playing college basketball," Davis said. "I talked to Draymond Green. He told me that I can't have any days off. No bad games. No bad practices. I'll be going against grown men who are doing this for a living."
There was a rare moment of assertiveness when Davis inferred Thursday that he and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had an understanding at the beginning of last season that Davis was probably a one-and-done. But Izzo thought as long as a month ago that it remained a 50-50 proposition the power forward might return for his sophomore season.
This is considered a down year for one-and-done prospects. The general consensus is the top picks in the June 23 draft will be Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram and LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons in either order. Davis could be the third freshman taken. And that possibility no doubt weighed heavily in the decision process.
Some early mock drafts have Davis going in the top 12.
"I just want (the teams) to know that I'm coming in like I want the job," Davis said.
Hopefully, he'll fare well in the first chapter of his new NBA adult life. But Davis would have made a more convincing argument if he didn't sound like he had to convince himself first.
Contact Drew Sharp: dsharp@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @drewsharp. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/drew-sharp/.