BY JORGE REYNA
VN SPORTS EDITOR
Since 2015, the Jerry West Award has recognized the purest shooting guards in NCAA Division 1.
Players like D’Angelo Russell, Buddy Hield, Carson Edwards and Malik Monk have been recognized.
It’s rare to find players who are as unique and pure as the late NBA legend Jerry West.
But it just so happens one of the young talents that is a candidate is on the McNichols campus.
Sophomore Antoine Davis is one of 20 guards in the country named as contenders for the award.
Davis had a dominant freshman year for the Titans, breaking Stephen Curry’s NCAA record for 3-pointers made by a freshman with 132 shots from behind the line.
He also has been honored as first team all-Horizon League, as Horizon Freshman of the Year and, more recently, as Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.
Davis heard the news from his father, Titans head coach Mike Davis.
He said he was surprised.
“I would’ve never thought that I would’ve been in this position but I came a long way,'' said Davis.
The young Titan stands 6’1” and weighs 170 pounds, but being smaller than many of his competitors doesn’t faze him.
Instead, the standard that Davis said he looks to isn’t physical; it’s talent.
“I feel like I can keep up with the talent as far as the standpoint of working hard and keeping up with the standard and do more,” said Davis.
Is he concerned about being in second year and already getting so much recognition?
Davis said he expects the ups and downs of the season but hopes to build a culture of winning with his coaches and teammates and for the future of Detroit Mercy athletics.
“Right now, we’re on the right path and I feel like we’re going to do some special things,” said Davis.
