Recruiting Roundup: Daquan Davis gets love from ESPN's telecast, Team Takeover's impressive depth, players to watch at the Under Armour Association, and two outstanding Massachusetts prospects
1. Daquan Davis played in the championship game of the NBA Top 100 Camp last weekend, with his team coming from behind in the final two minutes to take home the title. Notably, Davis’ head coach for this game was a fellow Baltimore native — Will Barton, who became a star at Brewster Academy before going to Memphis and playing in the NBA since 2012. Davis is actually playing for Barton’s AAU program, Team Thrill, this week as the Under Armour Association wraps up play.
The NBA Camp title game was featured on ESPN, and Davis received high praise from Ryan Hollins (who was calling the game) at halftime. When asked one player he was most impressed with in the first half, Hollins highlighted Davis, who scored eight early points in the first quarter (on 3-4 shooting from the floor and 2-2 from beyond the arc) to get his team off to a fast start.
“I’m going to go with Daquan Davis,” Hollins said. “His energy in transition has been great, he’s made shots, and he’s been able to get to his spots — whether it’s a 3-point shot, the little floater inside, or a mid-range pull-up. He’s been the key this half for Coach Will Barton.”
Davis’ shooting numbers dipped as the game progressed, in part due to some tough shot selection, and also because it was his second game of the day. He hit a big 3-pointer off a screen with 4:45 to go in the fourth quarter to give his team a 74-70 advantage.
A replay of the game can be seen on ESPN3: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/00b5f409-594c-4f71-bbd3-cdee0082b408?om-navmethod=espn%3Aglobalsearch%3Aresults
2. As noted earlier this week, Davis played alongside perhaps the best player in high school basketball in Cooper Flagg, but he also shared a backcourt with shooting guard Isiah Harwell, who Providence offered a scholarship to on July 2. Harwell is a top ten player in the class of 2025.
3. This week is perhaps the biggest of the summer circuit, with the Nike EYBL Peach Jam coming to a conclusion, and the Under Armour Association (UAA) circuit of particular interest to Friar fans.
Davis and his Team Thrill team kicked off UAA play with a 2-0 mark on Thursday, notching wins over the Riverside Hawks (NY) and the Houston Defenders. A few other names to watch on the Under Armour circuit this week? Adrien Stevens of We R1 (class of 2025), Chase McCarty of Atlanta Xpress (2024), DJ Johnson of the Illinois Wolves, and Luke Bamgboye who will be joining Team Thrill soon.
Stevens is a 6’4 guard from Baltimore who was recently offered by Xavier and Butler, McCarty is a top 50-75 wing from Alabama, while Johnson is a 6’5 shooter who transferred from Chicago’s Whitney Young to Brewster Academy in the class of 2024. Bamboye is a 6’10 big who is rounding into form after an injury.
4. Expressions Elite (MA) and Team Takeover (DC) played in a terrific game to kick off this round of EYBL Peach Jam play, with Takeover coming out on top, 64-60.