Dashawn Davis is the break out star of the summer
The tough guard is ready to KILL Peach Jam
In a gym loaded with some of the city's best players, The New York Lightning coaching staff looked on intently for a prospect that might put them over the edge for the 2015 EYBL circuit. With their star guard Shamorie Ponds playing his last summer of AAU, the program had no shortage of talent, but did need that next "It" guy, who could go toe to toe with the nations elite. Among these prospects was Dashawn Davis, a scrawny freshman guard sent by his high school coach after an up and down season at Wings Academy. Davis showcased some raw talent that day, but ultimately failed to separate himself from the rest of the players in the gym. When the dust settled, he was cut from the squad and his aspirations of playing on a national stage were put on hold. "I guess you can say I played a lil nervous," Davis joked. In 2018 though, he now has the look of a high major prospect as he and the Lightning have reunited and terrorized opposing guards throughout the EYBL season. With Peach Jam approaching though, Davis still feels like he has so much to prove.
"My mentality stays the same. Go at everybody."
Having Dashawn Davis as a friend on Facebook is essentially signing up for a daily update of which new program extended him a scholarship recently. "St Louis just offered," He'll post one day. "Hofstra just offered," The very next. The seemingly routine flow of offers coming in now, was still a distant dream for him just a couple of seasons ago, when he was coming off of the bench for the perennial powerhouse Wings Academy. "I felt like I was getting held back," He says. "I couldn't flourish how I was suppose to, I was limited to do certain things on the court." Davis made the decision to leave Wings in search for a place where he could mesh and develop. After a stint at Providence Day School, He found it in Our Savior Lutheran, a private school with more of a national schedule, where he reclassified and teamed up with his current Lightning backcourt mate Posh Alexander. The flashy grittiness of Davis along with the jaw dropping athleticism of Alexander combined to help lead what was arguably NYC's best team to a 32-5 record. "My game really didn't change until I left wings," He says. "I guess I lacked confidence."
With the Lightning, Davis' confidence has been surging as him and Alexander's chemistry is evident every time they step on the court. In the Dallas session, he was apart of the All EYBL Breakout Team as his slash and attack mentality put college coaches and scouts on notice. He seemed to shine brightest against the higher ranked players, turning his focus up a notch higher. "My mentality stays the same," He says. "Go at everybody." As the leading scorer for his squad going into Peach Jam, there will be no shortage of elite prospects for him to size up his skills with.
"They're gonna have to show me why they're ranked so high"
Led by their explosive backcourt, The Lightning still face an uphill battle in a field loaded with firepower from top to bottom. Along with Davis and Alexander, the team features sharp shooters Alejandro Vasquez and Jordan Dingle, along with skilled forward Fredelin De la Cruz holding down the paint. The program is known for their grassroots foundation, as many of their players have came up through the younger age divisions, improved and stayed loyal when other teams came calling.Their scrappy underdog mentality and NYC swagger has Davis optimistic about their chances. "I feel like if we play together, stay out of our feelings, and give it all we got, we have a good chance," He says. Along with a championship, Davis wants to wrap his high school career up with a top 100 spot on the rankings and eventually an undefeated senior season. After being on the outside looking in a couple of years ago, he's now in the mix of things. As for those standing in his way, he's ready for the challenge. "They're gonna have to show me why they're ranked so high," He says. The New York Lightning are ready to represent their city in this year's Peach Jam, and with a player as hungry as Dashawn Davis leading the way, we won't count them out.
Led by their explosive backcourt, The Lightning still face an uphill battle in a field loaded with firepower from top to bottom. Along with Davis and Alexander, the team features sharp shooters Alejandro Vasquez and Jordan Dingle, along with skilled forward Fredelin De la Cruz holding down the paint. The program is known for their grassroots foundation, as many of their players have came up through the younger age divisions, improved and stayed loyal when other teams came calling.Their scrappy underdog mentality and NYC swagger has Davis optimistic about their chances. "I feel like if we play together, stay out of our feelings, and give it all we got, we have a good chance," He says. Along with a championship, Davis wants to wrap his high school career up with a top 100 spot on the rankings and eventually an undefeated senior season. After being on the outside looking in a couple of years ago, he's now in the mix of things. As for those standing in his way, he's ready for the challenge. "They're gonna have to show me why they're ranked so high," He says. The New York Lightning are ready to represent their city in this year's Peach Jam, and with a player as hungry as Dashawn Davis leading the way, we won't count them out.