Indiana University Athletics
De'Ron Davis Named Mr. Basketball in Colorado
4/3/2016 10:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Neil H. Devlin
The Denver Post
AURORA — Everyone seemed to want more from De'Ron Davis, who was offered a scholarship by Indiana before he enrolled as a freshman at Overland High School. His coach, Danny Fisher, knew all about the pressure his young star would face.
"The expectations for him since being a freshman were kind of through the roof," Fisher said. "I don't want to say ridiculous, but ... I don't know if he ever did enough to satisfy everyone. No matter what he would have done, they said, 'Well, he's (6-foot-9), he should do that.' "
Said Davis: "You can always do more. If you have seven rebounds, you can always get eight."
Davis, the winner of this year's Mr. Colorado Basketball award by The Denver Post, did plenty. Overland went 83-25 with him. It won the past two Class 5A titles, and he twice was named tournament MVP by The Denver Post. The Trailblazers also won or shared the past three Centennial League titles, ringing up a 36-6 record in the state's toughest conference.
Individually, the 240-pounder scored a total of 1,527 points for a career average of 14.4 per game. He added range out to beyond the 3-point line and made 77 percent of his free throws.
But defense is where he will be remembered most in state history. He was the best rim protector Colorado has seen in decades. His 441 career blocked shots top the all-time state list since that statistic started being recorded in 1982, and his 1,028 rebounds rank seventh since that statistic began being kept in 1972.
"He's one of the best players in the country," Eaglecrest coach John Olander said of Davis.
Eaglecrest, which tied Overland for the league title this season, won the teams' first meeting but Davis did not play in it after drawing two technical fouls in the previous game, leading to a one-game suspension. In the teams' second meeting, Davis stole the ball three times in the first four minutes and dunked each time. Overland dunked eight times overall and allowed only eight baskets.
And in the teams' third and final meeting, despite being in foul trouble, Davis' presence was the backbone of a 66-56 victory in the Class 5A championship game, giving Overland a repeat title.
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"The best thing about him this year was his maturity," Fisher said. "When he was in foul trouble (in the state final), he became the ultimate cheerleader."
Davis, who grew up in Park Hill and said he saw Denver East "as the top dog," said he and teammates wanted to establish the same reputation when they moved to Aurora. They did.
Fisher allowed that Davis was disappointed in not being named a McDonald's All-American or being selected the state's Gatorade player of the year. But Davis said he will leave Colorado to play in the Big Ten with nothing but good thoughts. And a bright future.
"I enjoyed my time in Colorado," Davis said, "and, hopefully, will have a better experience in Indiana."
Past winners of The Denver Post's Mr. Colorado basketball award:
1993: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1994: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1995: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1996: Chris Crosby, Chatfield
1997: Tom Starkey, Green Mountain
1998: Nick Mohr, Columbine
1999: Brian Greene, Horizon
2000: Blair Wilson, Westminster
2001: Patrick Simpson, George Washington
2002: Franklin Ryk, Rocky Mountain
2003: Nick Fazekas, Ralston Valley
2004: Sean Ogirri, Denver East
2005: Andrew Brown, Heritage
2006: Matt Bouldin, ThunderRidge
2007: Levin Knutson, Arapahoe
2008: Reggie Jackson, Palmer
2009: Bud Thomas, Regis Jesuit
2010: Bud Thomas, Regis Jesuit
2011: Riley Grabau, Boulder
2012: Josh Scott, Lewis-Palmer
2013: Dominique Collier, Denver East
2014: Dominique Collier, Denver East
2015: Brian Carey, Denver East
The Denver Post
AURORA — Everyone seemed to want more from De'Ron Davis, who was offered a scholarship by Indiana before he enrolled as a freshman at Overland High School. His coach, Danny Fisher, knew all about the pressure his young star would face.
"The expectations for him since being a freshman were kind of through the roof," Fisher said. "I don't want to say ridiculous, but ... I don't know if he ever did enough to satisfy everyone. No matter what he would have done, they said, 'Well, he's (6-foot-9), he should do that.' "
Said Davis: "You can always do more. If you have seven rebounds, you can always get eight."
Davis, the winner of this year's Mr. Colorado Basketball award by The Denver Post, did plenty. Overland went 83-25 with him. It won the past two Class 5A titles, and he twice was named tournament MVP by The Denver Post. The Trailblazers also won or shared the past three Centennial League titles, ringing up a 36-6 record in the state's toughest conference.
Individually, the 240-pounder scored a total of 1,527 points for a career average of 14.4 per game. He added range out to beyond the 3-point line and made 77 percent of his free throws.
But defense is where he will be remembered most in state history. He was the best rim protector Colorado has seen in decades. His 441 career blocked shots top the all-time state list since that statistic started being recorded in 1982, and his 1,028 rebounds rank seventh since that statistic began being kept in 1972.
"He's one of the best players in the country," Eaglecrest coach John Olander said of Davis.
Eaglecrest, which tied Overland for the league title this season, won the teams' first meeting but Davis did not play in it after drawing two technical fouls in the previous game, leading to a one-game suspension. In the teams' second meeting, Davis stole the ball three times in the first four minutes and dunked each time. Overland dunked eight times overall and allowed only eight baskets.
And in the teams' third and final meeting, despite being in foul trouble, Davis' presence was the backbone of a 66-56 victory in the Class 5A championship game, giving Overland a repeat title.
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Sign up to receive news alerts and a daily roundup of all things Colorado sports delivered to your inbox.
"The best thing about him this year was his maturity," Fisher said. "When he was in foul trouble (in the state final), he became the ultimate cheerleader."
Davis, who grew up in Park Hill and said he saw Denver East "as the top dog," said he and teammates wanted to establish the same reputation when they moved to Aurora. They did.
Fisher allowed that Davis was disappointed in not being named a McDonald's All-American or being selected the state's Gatorade player of the year. But Davis said he will leave Colorado to play in the Big Ten with nothing but good thoughts. And a bright future.
"I enjoyed my time in Colorado," Davis said, "and, hopefully, will have a better experience in Indiana."
Past winners of The Denver Post's Mr. Colorado basketball award:
1993: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1994: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1995: Chauncey Billups, George Washington
1996: Chris Crosby, Chatfield
1997: Tom Starkey, Green Mountain
1998: Nick Mohr, Columbine
1999: Brian Greene, Horizon
2000: Blair Wilson, Westminster
2001: Patrick Simpson, George Washington
2002: Franklin Ryk, Rocky Mountain
2003: Nick Fazekas, Ralston Valley
2004: Sean Ogirri, Denver East
2005: Andrew Brown, Heritage
2006: Matt Bouldin, ThunderRidge
2007: Levin Knutson, Arapahoe
2008: Reggie Jackson, Palmer
2009: Bud Thomas, Regis Jesuit
2010: Bud Thomas, Regis Jesuit
2011: Riley Grabau, Boulder
2012: Josh Scott, Lewis-Palmer
2013: Dominique Collier, Denver East
2014: Dominique Collier, Denver East
2015: Brian Carey, Denver East
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