Johnny Davis heard the knock against the University of Wisconsin when he was in high school, but it wasn't for elite players who wanted the fast track to the NBA.
The skeptics were not outsiders with limited intel. The kids were from La Crosse Central High School, one of the top basketball prep schools in the state. He and his teammates had grown up during the most consistent stretch of Badgers basketball ever: six Sweet 16 appearances between 2011 and 2017, Final Fours in 2014 and 2015 and annual trips to the NCAA tournament. Frank Kaminsky, the Wooden Award winner in 2015, was one of the stars they saw develop. They had seen La Crosse send some of its best to Wisconsin.
They were steadfast that Wisconsin was not the right spot for Davis.
My friends were telling me that I was not going to be able to make it to the NBA.
Noah Parcher, who played with Davis at Central High, said that people talked about how Wisconsin is not a good fit for him. I think he is the best player Wisconsin has ever had.
Davis has become a part of the conversation this season.
The 6-foot-5 and 194-pound wing is a national player of the year candidate and a definite All-American, ranking 19th nationally in scoring average and leading the Badgers in rebound. Davis has become the best big-game player in the sport, leading the nation in scoring against Top 25 opponents at 24.1 points per game. He is on pace to become the first 20 point-per-game scorer in Wisconsin since Michael Finley in 1994. On Tuesday, Davis was named Big Ten Player of the Year.
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The goal his friends didn't think could be achieved so quickly at Wisconsin is coming into focus. A consensus lottery pick who has drawn droves of scouts to Wisconsin games, Davis appears at No. 7 overall in the latest mock NBA draft. Since 2004, Wisconsin has produced five NBA draft picks, but Davis would be the first sophomore since 1995 to be drafted.
Davis is set to become the youngest NBA draft pick from Wisconsin in the first or second round after celebrating his 20th birthday on February 27. His rise from sixth man to superstar is the result of a long-held belief that he would reach this level, a strong basketball background, and the willingness of Wisconsin to let him shine.
Davis reflected on a season few predicted for him or his team before the film session. The night before, Wisconsin had defeated Minnesota for its 22nd victory and remained in first place in the Big Ten. The preseason predictions had the Badgers finishing 10th in the league.
I never could have predicted that my team would be playing this well or that we would get 20 wins. Being a projected lottery pick and a potential national player of the year is just crazy. I am not surprised that it is happening because you should expect to win every time you step on the floor.
I want to be the best player when I step on the floor.
People who watched Davis grow in basketball say they knew he had this. There was a competitive drive, willingness to take on contact and defend, and a burst to create and make shots in bunches.
The only question was when he would break out.
Johnny Davis makes a 3-point shot for Wisconsin.
Terrance Thompson, a close friend and high school teammate, said he expected him to do it last year.
Parcher and Davis bet on goals.
Parcher said that he was the Big Ten Player of the Year, national player of the year and for him to average 20 points per game. I am glad he took that personally.
Like many Wisconsin players, Davis spent his first college season acclimating and developing. He had to navigate challenges on the court, including a logjam of seniors occupying starting spots, as well as playing ball and starting college amid the coronaviruses epidemic. His stat line was typical for a freshman reserve: 7 points per game with a high of 17, and 4.3 rebound per game in 24.4 minutes per game.
Pick the winner for each game of the NCAA tournament in 2022. Play a tournament.
A year where I just needed to gather myself.
He came to Wisconsin with a plan to reach the NBA. He needed a sophomore surge because he wasn't behind schedule. The USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team training camp is located at the site of the University of Wisconsin's campus.
There were 26 players vying for a spot on the World Cup team. The group included higher-profile players, including the nation's No. 1 incoming recruit.
Davis was a quiet but physical player who rebounded and defended well, and never let his energy dip, according to the coach of the U19 team. Davis was able to overcome subpar shooting with other strengths.
He stood out due to his toughness and defense. He cared.
Davis was on the team. He had the second-lowest scoring average in the seven-game tournament, but the experience helped him.
He said that he was able to prove himself. I should come in, not being arrogant, but thinking that I am the best player on the floor all the time.
Johnny Davis makes a noise on the finish.
The player Wisconsin identified as a potential star was ready to go.
Gard said that he had the swagger, but that he was the best player. The first day back, it was very exciting.
He was at a different level.
Is the type of program in Wisconsin that could allow Davis to keep climbing?
Johnny Davis makes a 3-pointer.
The front row of the meeting room in the Kohl Center has a chair in it. The Badgers assistant coach was the target of the most talked about slap in sports.
Krabbenhoft joked that they used to be boring.
Thanks to Davis, Wisconsin generated a lot of excitement before the Michigan game. But Krabbenhoft, a Wisconsin forward from 2005 to 2009, now in his second stint on the coaching staff, understands the program's reputation.
Player development and a team-centered culture are what makes Wisconsin successful. Bo Ryan, Dick Bennett, and now Gard all have a methodical offense, punishing defense, and a slower pace. According to Ken Pomeroy, the Final Four teams in the last two years ranked in the middle of the pack in adjusted tempo, but both also ranked in the top-4 for adjusted efficiency.
The Wisconsin system has produced stars such as Kaminsky. A pro prospect who has emerged as quickly as Davis is what the Badgers rarely have.
Krabbenhoft said that Wisconsin basketball has been an all- about the team program for more than two decades. You can come here and be a great individual player. It was a challenge for Johnny. We will give you the platform. We have a pretty good recipe.
The challenge is on you. We will put you in position.
Krabbenhoft's message was all Davis and his family needed to hear. As a sophomore, Davis earned all-state honors, but didn't get a lot of attention. Thompson was a Kentucky fan when he was a kid, but the Cats and other bluebloods stayed away.
Despite earning Mr. Basketball honors in Wisconsin in 2020 and making all-state three times, Davis wasn't among the top 100 recruits.
Davis said that he was "very underrated." We played Suggs a few times and he is getting a lot of attention. It made me want to prove to people that I am better than him.
Davis was noticed before the rest by Wisconsin, which is less than 150 miles from his home in La Crosse. He received a scholarship offer in his sophomore year. Gard and Krabbenhoft both loved the leadership and toughness that Davis displayed in football, where he earned all-state honors at quarterback. They saw a basketball player who could grow as a shooter.
Krabbenhoft said he knew he could get to this level.
King left Wisconsin midway through his third season due to built-up frustration with Gard, and was one of the players recruited from La Crosse. Davis was told why he should not play there.
Tyler Herro and Jalen Johnson are both from Wisconsin, but I don't think they went there because they wanted to. I guess he wanted to be different.
It is amazing to see how Wisconsin changed their entire offense for a guy like Johnny.
The bucket was thrown by Johnny Davis to even the score.
Gard was an assistant to Ryan when he came to Wisconsin in 2001 and replaced him 14 years later. He helped accommodate players such as Harris, who might be the closest Wisconsin comparison to Davis. Harris was a second-team All-America selection as a junior when he scored 19.5 points per game. He was the highest pick in the NBA draft since 1950.
Gard said that Davis and Harris are similar in that they both use people to find scoring opportunities.
Gard said that Davis has a lot of freedom and that he understands that taking care of the ball is important. We are going to find ways if you are good enough. I have been able to modify how we run things to showcase people.
He has done a great job of taking advantage of those opportunities.
Mark saw the change immediately. Johnny scored 30 points against Houston in the fifth game of the season. Mark did not know that Johnny had ballhandling skills.
Mark said that his son was the best player on the floor.
Johnny Davis goes off for 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field as Wisconsin takes down Houston to advance to the championship game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitation.
Mark Davis has the loudest voice in the gym.
Whether he was coaching Johnny and Jordan in grade school, or watching them play at Central High or Wisconsin, the elder Davis could always be seen and heard by his sons and their teammates.
King missed a free throw in the sectional final and Mark yelled "Make your damn free throws!" at him. He makes his presence felt.
Mark laughed and said that all of them know who he is. I am a vocal fan and father.
He is not a typical basketball dad. Mark played in the NBA for 14 years, with stops in Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Europe.
During the 1988-89 NBA season, Mark played only 33 games, all for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the Most Valuable Player of the Spanish Cup in 1990 with CB Zaragoza, and had three spells with the La Crosse Catbirds. He met his future wife, Sarah, after staying in town after his retirement.
Johnny and Jordan were born in 2002. Johnny was called Jonathan for most of his life. He became an avid watcher of Johnny Test.
He said that his aunt was fond of that song.
Mark introduced his sons to basketball. They were often playing against older kids.
Johnny, who considers his father and Jordan as his primary basketball influences, said that he first heard that he played against Michael Jordan. He put up 60 points in Spain. It was cool to be able to watch my dad do that and think I could do the same thing someday.
Mark began coaching Johnny and Jordan in third grade.
He said that by the time they got to the eighth grade, they no longer wanted to hear his voice. You don't worry about the outcome of the game. I instilled that in them, and they never looked at a stat sheet in high school.
They filled them instead. Jordan had many injuries and was the better athlete. Johnny developed faster than Jordan in high school. They helped Central win its first state title in more than 90 years.
The Davis boys were not fans of Wisconsin. Jordan was a big fan of North Carolina while Johnny was a big fan of Kentucky. Mark enjoyed watching the Kaminsky and Dekker teams. The stock of Wisconsin rose in the Davis home after King picked the Badgers. The offer for Johnny came a year and a half later.
Johnny Davis dunked the ball after picking off the pass.
Johnny Davis, a four-star recruit, had heard the same chatter about the ceiling for stars in Wisconsin.
I wanted to play for my home state, and Johnny had that same attitude, no matter where I end up, I'm going to get the goal that I want. I don't think there is a better person to do that than Johnny.
Gard told Mark that Wisconsin would adjust to have a player like Johnny. Wisconsin wouldn't limit him, whether it meant increasing offensive tempo at times or letting Johnny create shots.
If Johnny delivered, the NBA would find him.
Mark said it was true. I went to the NBA while at Old Dominion. You are going to go if you are good enough. I was wondering if he would go out after his sophomore year. I did not. I thought about it after his junior year. The kid, his drive and perseverance, is unparalleled. He will do whatever it takes.
That is what is going to translate over to the NBA.
Johnny Davis makes a clutch 3-pointer for Wisconsin.
Johnny Davis is exceeding everyone's expectations, but he is not acting like it. His face doesn't change no matter what he's doing, whether he's scoring 37 points on the road at Purdue or getting pinballed by every opponent's best defender.
King said that he was always that Tim Duncan-type, expressionless.
Gard was bothered by the stolid demeanor of Davis. The coach did not know if Davis absorbed his instructions or what buttons to push with the young player. One day, Davis told Gard that he was like this all the time.
Mark joked that Johnny never changed his expression since third grade, but there was a time in fourth grade when Johnny and Jordan's team led a team of fifth graders by so many points that they couldn't use press defense. Johnny slammed the ball in disgust after drawing a whistle and earning a technical foul. Johnny was benched for the first half of the next game after being kicked off the court by Mark.
Johnny said that it was bad when he was younger.
There are times when Johnny shows his personality.
Thompson said that he will be screaming in the mic once he gets killed. He is a normal guy.
Mark thinks Johnny will do well in the NBA because he has a steady approach. Mark sat courtside at Rutgers last month and watched McConnell smother Johnny, who never showed signs of frustration and overcame a tough shooting night to score 19 points in the five-point Badgers win.
Johnny Davis shoots a 3-pointer.
Mark said that Johnny will be an All-Star in five years in the NBA. It's time to mark it down.
The NBA decision seems to have been forgone. He said that based on his current draft projection, he would definitely leave, but remained focused on leading Wisconsin to a deep NCAA tournament run. Davis expects to return for the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals on Friday despite hurting his ankle on a scary play against Nebraska.
Davis will relate to the program he picked when his name is called June 23 in Brooklyn.
He has done wonders to end the narrative that is out there. You can do anything in Wisconsin. Johnny has proven that to the nation.
He hopes that squashing the stigma will be his legacy.
He hopes that it will change the view on the university.
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