PROSPECT PROFILE:
JOHNNY DAVIS
Overview
One way or the other, the Cavaliers will likely make history on June 23, making the 14th overall pick in the NBA Draft for the first time in team history.
They’ve also never had two players in their history with the same name. But that could change in just under two weeks if Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis is still on the board when Cleveland’s pick rolls around.
For some of us ancient Cavalier fans, the original Johnny Davis was the veteran backup point guard who had a brief stint with the Cavs – just 115 games over two seasons – but is remembered for hitting a huge three-pointer against New Jersey at the Coliseum to clinch a Playoff spot for the 1985 team that started the season 2-19.
That Johnny Davis – who played his college ball in Dayton and had head coaching stints with the Magic and Grizzlies – had a solid 11-year NBA career. But if the modern-day version from Wisconsin is what scouts expect him to be, he’ll surpass anything the former Flyer ever did.
Perhaps no player in college hoops made a bigger improvement from one year to the next than the Wisconsin native, nearly tripling his scoring average – (7.0 to 19.7ppg) – from his freshman to his sophomore season with the Badgers. At the completion of his second year, Davis was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.
Davis – whose twin brother Jordan still plays for Wisconsin and whose father (originally drafted by the Cavaliers) spent four seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee and Phoenix – came to Madison as a two-sport star in high school.
Naturally, Davis was a standout hoopster at LaCrosse Central High School in Wisconsin – winning the state title as a freshman and leaving as the school’s all-time leading scorer. But he was also the football team’s starting quarterback, earning First Team All-State honors along with the Dave Krieg Award as the most outstanding senior quarterback in the state.
Projected as a pure shooting guard at the next level, Davis took a backseat during his freshman season at Wisconsin, still managing to lead the senior-heavy squad in steals despite not starting a game. But he exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, including a 30-point performance in a win over Houston in the Maui Classic.
During his sophomore season, Davis saved some of his best performances for the biggest moments, including a 37-point explosion in a huge win over then No. 3-ranked Purdue and a 30-point, 12-rebound effort one month later in a road victory over Indiana.
The model of consistency all year long, Davis posted six double-doubles overall and failed to notch double-figure scoring just once. Against Minnesota and Illinois, he had back-to-back games of 15 rebounds.
The 20-year-old looks like a pro-ready player already, and if his college trajectory is any indicator, he’s just getting warmed up.
Plenty of teams would love to bring an athletic two-way guard with upside like Davis into the fold. If he lasts until the 14th pick, the Wine & Gold might be one of them …
Strengths
An aggressive player on both ends of the floor, Davis has both the strength and athleticism to create his own shot and puts constant pressure on the defense. He’s a nightmare in transition, can get wherever he needs to go in the halfcourt and has the frame to dominate smaller guards.
At the recent Draft Combine in Chicago, Davis measured out at 6’.5.75” and 196 pounds with a 6’.8.5” wingspan, confirming the prototypical build for a shooting guard. And he’s a player who uses his size well, averaging 6.3 free throw attempts per game as a sophomore.
| Wingspan | Body Fat | Hand Length | Hand Width | Height | Standing Reach |
| 6.8.5" | 6.7% | 8.5 | 10.25 | 6'575" | 8'7.5" |
While he still has room to grow as a shooter, Davis shouldered much of the offensive load for what wasn’t exactly a high-octane Badgers team. He has a solid mid-range game and excels around the rim – using his excellent body control and brawn to work through traffic.
Davis is an excellent rebounder, averaging 8.2 boards as a sophomore – grabbing at least eight boards in eight of the last 10 games of the season. He’s also an instinctive, intense defender who never takes nights off and averaged 1.1 steals over his two seasons with Wisconsin.
Weaknesses
For his impressive skills on the offensive end, Davis still isn’t considered a strong threat from deep after a subpar sophomore season. As a freshman, he shot 39 percent from three-point range, but dipped to just 30 percent last year. Davis was expected to carry the offensive load and his shot selection might have been questioned at times, shooting just under 43 overall from the floor.
Davis handled the ball primarily for the Badgers too, something that will probably change at the next level. He averaged 2.1 assists during his sophomore season, but also 2.3 turnovers per game.
How He'd Fit
Davis is a relatively complete player, a mature athlete who still has some big upside. He has many of the tools most NBA teams covet – especially his willingness to compete on the defensive end.
Aside from All-Star Darius Garland, the Cavaliers backcourt situation is still somewhat fluid heading into the offseason. Adding the 20-year-old Davis to the mix would add some size and athleticism to the group. And he’ll bring that football mentality that Clevelanders love.
If he’s still on the board at No. 14 – (or hasn’t left the building for a Taco Bell run) – the Wine & Gold might have a difficult time passing on a player like Johnny Davis.