DIPRIMIO: Trayce Jackson-Davis Soaring to the Challenge

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Trayce Jackson-Davis soared. Did you expect anything less?

Indiana's newest freshman standout impressed, from his dunking to his shot blocking to his, well, sense of Cream n' Crimson tradition.

Did it catch your attention?

It certainly did for former Hoosier superstar Calbert Cheaney and others amid Saturday's Hoosier Hysteria spectacle.

"Trayce has a great opportunity in front of him," teammate Joey Brunk says. "He has a very high ceiling."

The 6-9, 245-pound Jackson-Davis, the son of former Indiana Pacer Dale Davis, is the latest in a series of big-time in-state Hoosier newcomers in recent years, joining Romeo Langford, James Blackmon, Cody Zeller and Eric Gordon.

High-flying athleticism is among the reasons Jackson-Davis figures to make instant impact.

In many ways, he already has.

"I'm very proud of him in terms of what he's done," coach Archie Miller says. "He's gotten himself in terrific shape. He's got to continue to go with that. His athleticism, his conditioning, are all very impressive. He's a gifted young guy and he's coachable."

Signs of that surfaced while winning Saturday's dunk contest. Jackson-Davis' reverse behind-the-head dunk earned a perfect 10 from Cheaney -- still the Big Ten's career scoring leader 26 years after his last college game -- and the rest of the judges.

That came after he switched from his No. 4 jersey to Cheaney's No. 40 to honor the former college national player of the year.

Cheaney called it, "A tremendous gesture."

During Saturday's brief scrimmage, Jackson-Davis recorded a couple of baskets, including another dunk, and blocked a Brunk shot.

It was a hint of what's coming (center De'Ron Davis calls Jackson-Davis a "very athletic, cool kid. He uses his athleticism to the best of his ability"), but with this stipulation:

Even with McDonald's All-America status and a top-20 rating among incoming freshmen, nothing will be given, everything will be earned.

"He's going to be put in the fire," Miller says. "He was brought here to be put in the fire, and he can help our team immensely.

"He's got some confidence. The more experience he gets, the better he'll be. He's got to continue to work on his game, evolve as a player."

Jackson-Davis' challenges will include guarding college forwards who can thrive outside and inside, as well as bigger post players.

"I'm very hopeful with Trayce," Miller says. "His lateral mobility, athleticism. He knows he has to defend on the perimeter. He's going to have to do that to be able to play with other guys. He's going to have to learn early and probably go through some hard times getting used to guarding college actions and scouting.

"But he can take that role as a guy who can defend inside and out. He's not a prototype typical big. He's very mobile, athletic. He's got great endurance for a young player. He's just going to have to get some experience under his belt."

Teammate Justin Smith, a 6-7 junior forward with strong defensive potential (Miller says Smith can be "one of the Big Ten's better defenders"), has offered invaluable insight.

"With my athleticism, I'm able to play that position," Jackson-Davis says. "I've been learning a lot from Justin. Things like where to be in the gaps, help on offense, what to do. Just basic things.

"Keep working at it and hopefully I'll be ready for the season."

Facing 6-10, 255-pound Davis and 6-11, 245-pound Brunk in practice has produced early indications of what Big Ten post play will be like.

"It's been really good, battling them every day," Jackson-Davis says. "That Big Ten toughness and physical style of play will help me in the long run."

Brunk, a Butler transfer and three-year college veteran, has been a practice partner since the spring.

"We started chemistry early," Jackson-Davis says. "He gave me pointers on how to play college basketball. Just watching how hard he goes. Those are big things that I've picked up from him."

As for the other challenges in transitioning from high school to college, Jackson-Davis says, "It's been a lot tougher, but once you get that schedule down, it becomes routine. I've clicked with it pretty well. My teammates have also helped with things to do and how much sleep you should get. It's been pretty good."

Preparation includes a we-over-me mentality.

"I'm focused on getting team chemistry down and trying to fit in. I think we've done that real well."

That matches Miller's perception.

"There's a lot around him in terms of accolades and hype," Miller says, "but he's been very humble in the way he's worked, the way he's fit in.

"He sponges it up. He doesn't know what he doesn't know, and asks questions. He's really improved."

That includes benefiting from several months in strength and conditioning coach Clif Marshall's program. While Jackson-Davis hasn't gained weight, he has increased his vertical jump and strength.

Given what he's about to face, he'll need it.

"He's going to go through some really hard times," Miller says. "College basketball is harder for young bigs than it is guards, because they're not used to the pounding and the size, and the age difference.

"So he'll go through that."

But this much is certain, Miller adds.

"There is no better guy to be around than him on a daily basis with how he approaches things."

Indiana University Athletics

DIPRIMIO: Trayce Jackson-Davis Soaring to the Challenge

Players Mentioned

Joey Brunk

De'Ron Davis

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Romeo Langford

Justin Smith

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