Tag: Johnny Davis

WATCH: Johnny Davis’ remarkable freshman-to-sophomore leap

The Badger star has grown into one of the countries best players

Earlier this week, the Big Ten Network looked at Wisconsin star Johnny Davis’ leap from freshman to sophomore year. It has been a remarkable statistical jump in every category, as the sophomore has improved his points per game average from 7.0 to 22.3. Davis has also nearly doubled up his rebounds and assists from a year ago.

The Big Ten Network’s video features Greg Gard and Brad Davison as they talk about how Davis has taken so many leaps forward. From his time with Team USA this past summer to having what Gard describes as “an assassins heart,” there have been many factors in his growth over the past year:

WATCH: How Johnny and Jordan Davis make each other better

A look at how the twins make each other better

Earlier this month, the Big Ten Network looked at how brothers Johnny and Jordan Davis have helped each other improve.

From Brad Davison to Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard, members of the Wisconsin basketball family were interviewed to discuss the growth of the brothers this season. For Johnny Davis, his experience this past summer with Team USA was mentioned for greatly helping his confidence as a player.

The Big Ten Network video documented the twins’ upbringing and how they grew up guarding each other. They bring out the best in each other, and have helped each other improve throughout their two years in Madison:

Wisconsin basketball is near the top in the latest CBS bracket projection

A look at where Wisconsin stands in the latest CBS bracket

Despite a home loss to Michigan State this past Friday, the Badgers stayed firm on the No. 2 line in the latest CBS bracket projection from bracketology expert Jerry Palm.

Palm sees Wisconsin as a No. 2 seed in the midwest region as they would face off with Arkansas State in the first round. Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, and Kansas make up the No. 1 seeds in the latest bracket projection. Wisconsin is actually the highest-seeded Big Ten team in this week’s bracket, as Purdue and Michigan State both slipped to the No. 3 line.

Wisconsin continues play on Thursday as they travel to Nebraska for a 2 p.m. CT tip.

Johnny Davis on his favorite part of being a Wisconsin Badger

Johnny Davis details his favorite part of being a Badger

Wisconsin’s star wing Johnny Davis appeared on ESPN’s Countdown to College Gameday this past Saturday, and was asked about his favorite part of being a Wisconsin Badger.

Without hesitation, the La Crosse native responded that it was “being homegrown.”

“Every time I put on that jersey and see Wisconsin across my chest I know I’m doing it for all the people in the state,” Davis told ESPN.

Before coming to Madison, Davis starred down the road at La Crosse Central high school. The three-star recruit then decided to stay home for college basketball and the rest is history. Here is a look at Davis’ answer in full:

Johnny Davis named Midseason First-Team All-American by sporting news

The accolades just keep coming for Wisconsin’s sophomore guard Johnny Davis.

Another day, another recognition for Wisconsin Badgers star Johnny Davis. This time, he’s being recognized by sporting news as a Midseason First-Team All-American.

The sophomore guard is in the middle of a breakout campaign in his first season as a starter for the Badgers.

Last season, Davis averaged 7.0 points, and 4.1 rebounds off the bench in just over 24 minutes a game. This season, Davis has taken his game to new heights and leads the Badgers in scoring with 22.1 points per game, rebounds per game (7.5), assists (2.6), steals (1.5), and free throws made (74).

Davis is joined on the Midseason First-Team All-American list by: James Akinjo (Baylor), Paolo Banchero (Duke), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), and Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky).

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

2022 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Jabari Smith rising in latest projections of every pick

Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. highlighted the prospects on the rise in the latest Rookie Wire Mock Draft.

With the 2021-22 basketball season in full swing, scouts and front-office executives have had an extended look at the next wave of prospects set to enter the NBA.

Prior to the beginning of the season, Duke forward Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren dominated the conversation atop most draft boards. However, the top of the draft looks to be changing with Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. emerging in a big way this season.

Rookie Wire took a look at the next rookie class and projected every pick based on the latest information at hand. Of course, with much of the season left to play, these rankings will change but here is how we see things at the moment.

Note: The order of the draft was pulled from Tankathon as of Jan. 19. The 2022 draft may only have 58 picks after the Bucks and Heat were stripped of their second-round picks by the NBA.

Johnny Davis just became the first division one player to accomplish this feat since 2002

Johnny Davis just became the first division one player to accomplish this feat since 2002.

The No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (15-2, 6-1 Big Ten), are off to their best ever start under head coach Greg Gard. The Badgers were picked to finish 10th in the preseason polls by media pundits all around the country, and at this point it’s fair to say UW has completely exceeded all expectations. 

This of course is in large part because of the ascension we’ve seen from sophomore guard Johnny Davis. 

The La Crosse (Wisc.) native has been one of the most indispensable players in the entire nation at the mid-way point of the season.

The former La Crosse Central standout currently leads the Badgers in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and free throws made.

Through his first 15 starts for the Badgers, Davis has put himself in elite company. 

Last night, Davis became the first division one player since Carmelo Anthony in 2002-03 to record 300+ points, 100+ rebounds, 30+ assists, 20+ threes made, and 10+ blocked shots through his first 15 collegiate starts.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Johnny Davis lands on ESPN’s Top 25 players in college basketball list

Sophomore guard Johnny Davis makes an appearance on ESPN’s top 25 player rankings.

Earlier last week, ESPN college hoops writer John Gasaway published his Top 25 player’s in college basketball list.

This was the second rendition of said list, with one significant change in ESPN’s midseason update.

Wisconsin’s star guard Johnny Davis went from not making the cut on the preseason top 25 list, all the way up to number one.

The sophomore guard is among the most valuable players in American right now.

The former La Crosse Central standout currently leads the Badgers in scoring with 21.7 points per game on 43.5% shooting.

Davis also leads the Badgers in rebounds per game (7.5), assists (2.6), steals (1.4), free throws made (67), and is second on the team in blocks per game (0.7).

The Big Ten had eight players featured on the list, which was more than any other conference.

Among the players listed were: Johnny Davis (1), Kofi Cockburn (2), Keegan Murray (6), E.J. Liddell (10), Trayce Jackson-Davis (12), Jaden Ivey (14), Trevion Williams (17), and Zach Edey (21).

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Aggregate NBA mock draft 3.0: Jabari Smith leaps ahead of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren for No. 1

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Draft Express (ESPN), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Sam Vecenie (The Athletic), Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report), Jeremy Woo (Sports Illustrated), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), Matt Babcock (Basketball News) as well as USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score in order to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion. Predictions for a first overall pick earned a player 58 points while the second overall pick earned 57 points, the third overall earned 56 points, and so on.

Johnny Davis (Wisconsin), Jeremy Sochan (Baylor), Harrison Ingram (Stanford), EJ Liddell (Ohio State), Wendell Moore (Duke), Blake Wesley (Notre Dame), and Walker Kessler (Auburn) have improved their draft stock the most since our most recent update last month.

The most notable prospects making their debut on our rankings are Tari Eason (LSU), Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown), Dereon Seabron (NC State), Christian Braun (Kansas), Trevion Williams (Purdue) and Orlando Robinson (Fresno State).

Some of the top prospects who were not included in any of these most recent mock drafts include Matthew Cleveland (Florida State), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona), Max Abmas (Oral Roberts), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Alex Fudge (LSU), Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse), Josh Minott (Memphis) and Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall).

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Aggregate NBA mock draft 3.0: Jabari Smith leaps ahead of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren for No. 1

The best prospects in the world are all competing for the top spot in the 2022 NBA draft and it is hard to sort how everyone is stacking up.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Draft Express (ESPN), Aran Smith (NBADraft.net), Sam Vecenie (The Athletic), Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report), Jeremy Woo (Sports Illustrated), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), Matt Babcock (Basketball News) as well as USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score in order to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion. Predictions for a first overall pick earned a player 58 points while the second overall pick earned 57 points, the third overall earned 56 points, and so on.

Johnny Davis (Wisconsin), Jeremy Sochan (Baylor), Harrison Ingram (Stanford), EJ Liddell (Ohio State), Wendell Moore (Duke), Blake Wesley (Notre Dame), and Walker Kessler (Auburn) have improved their draft stock the most since our most recent update last month.

The most notable prospects making their debut on our rankings are Tari Eason (LSU), Aminu Mohammed (Georgetown), Dereon Seabron (NC State), Christian Braun (Kansas), Trevion Williams (Purdue) and Orlando Robinson (Fresno State).

Some of the top prospects who were not included in any of these most recent mock drafts include Matthew Cleveland (Florida State), Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona), Max Abmas (Oral Roberts), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Alex Fudge (LSU), Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse), Josh Minott (Memphis) and Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall).

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report