It takes a special type of player to become a fan favorite in New York City. It takes grit, fearlessness and undeniable skill to captivate the hearts of the people of New York.
In 2018, there are few players that are as popular in New York as Dashawn Davis. Honestly, what is there not to like to about Deshawn? Davis is from the Bronx, Edenwald Projects to be exact. Davis is tough as nails on and off the court. Make no mistake about it, the talented combo guard is must see in NYC on the courts right now. He embodies what the city represents. So while many are making their mass hiatus, the crafty combo guard is pulling the city as close as possible.
Davis loves Dyckman. Davis loves Our Savior Lutheran. Davis loves New York.. and they all love him back.
Recently we sat down with Davis to discuss playing for the New York Lightning, his recruiting process, his thoughts on numerous players leaving NYC and more. -Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter
TheDribbleDrop: They call you “The Hood Favorite.” Why do you think that is the case?
Image by B.Hill
Dashawn Davis: I’m from the Bronx. I'm from the Edenwald projects. I’ve been playing since the 6th grade and I started taking it seriously in the 8th. When I came up, I grabbed a lot of attention in my hood. The people got behind me.
TheDribbleDrop: If you were to use one word to describe your playing style, what would it be and why?
Dashawn Davis: Uptempo. I like to get in transition and create in the open floor as much as possible.
TheDribbleDrop: You play at Our Savior Lutheran, tell us about your experience there.
Dashawn Davis: i transferred to OSL going into my junior year. Coach has been showing me the way and always pushes me to become a better player and person.
TheDribbleDrop:You play a nice bit of ball at Dyckman. For those who have never been there, describe it.
Dashawn Davis: Dyckman is known for its pressure. It’s a lot of people out there on top of you. It’s a lot of cameras and press out there. You have to be on your “A” game out there because if you’re not sharp and in the right state of mind, you will get exposed.
My favorite night at Dyckman was opening night. I dropped a kid out there. Always good to catch a body out there.
TheDribbleDrop: You play on the NY Lightning, for those who don’t know, tell us about your experience with them.
Dashawn Davis: My experience with the Lightning was pretty good. They put me on a big stage against some of the best players in the country. Playing for them has forced me to become a better player.
TheDribbleDrop: Many analysts didn’t ranked you guys early on as one of the teams to watch, but you guys made a lot of noise this year. What are your thoughts on that?
Image by Jeff
Dashawn Davis: There are a lot of teams in New York that got the press early. On paper, we may not have had the most talent. As a team, we played better than anyone else. Playing on the EYBL circuit has been dope. They have the best players and the best teams. A lot of media is there and the elite coaches always show up. It’s nothing like the EYBL circuit.
TheDribbleDrop: We have seen an influx of players in the past couple of months leave NY. What are your thoughts on that? Do you think that the competition level is high enough?
Dashawn Davis: The competition on the PSAL and the Catholic School division has dipped a lot this year. I don’t think it’s going to force a lot of guys to get better to play on the next level. I think that is a major factor in some kids leaving the area this year.
Image by Jon Lopez
TheDribbleDrop: Tell me one great piece of advice you got from a teammate, coach, or older player that gave you a true edge in the art of scoring.
Dashawn Davis: Charles Jones from NYC gave me a great piece of advice once. We were playing Roselle Catholic. He said “that most colleges aren’t looking for a guy that can just score 30, most colleges are looking for guys that can play within a system.” That really changed my mindset for every time I played in front of a college coach.
TheDribbleDrop: As a wing, what do you prefer at the point guard spot alongside you: A pure passing point guard that is looking to set guys up and just knock down shots when needed, or a pick and roll heavy, explosive ball dominant guard who will hit you in spots to knock down shots.
Dashawn Davis: I don’t think I have a specific style of point guard alongside me, I would say I would like to play with someone who is comfortable playing off the ball as well though.
TheDribbleDrop: Your recruiting has picked up a lot since Peach Jam. What are you looking for from a program you decide to play for on the next level?
Dashawn Davis: The relationship I have with the coach matters a lot to me. We need to click. I need to fit their playing style as well. Last but not least, I need to play for a coach that is going to push me and groom me to succeed on the next level.