'He's a bright light': Davis' personality a reflection of his play

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis dribbles during a game against Ole Miss on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Davonte Davis contributed in a big way to Arkansas’ success down the stretch of the regular season, but not in the way you might imagine.

The freshman guard from Jacksonville became a mainstay in the Razorbacks’ lineup over the final four weeks of the conference schedule, averaging 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight consecutive starts ahead of this week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. Barring something unforeseen, he will continue to play a key role in the team’s success in the postseason.

But even before tipoff he has provided fuel for Arkansas of late. More specifically, candy, courtesy of his mother, aunt and cousin.

“The little colorful Tootsie Rolls,” Davis told WholeHogSports this week. “It’s crazy, but I have this big ol’ bag. I brought it to the game, and since we’ve been eating them we’ve been coming out hot.

“The Texas A&M game we didn’t really have any because I forgot them, but the game against South Carolina we came out hot. We’ll be eating candy and whatever it takes to get us hyped up. We listen to some jams in the locker room, just having fun, and certain things turn us up.”

Razorbacks forward Justin Smith confirmed Tuesday that Davis brought the candy with him on the trip to Columbia, S.C. The freshman has an energy about him that is contagious, Smith added.

“He’s an interesting dude. He’s funny. He’s always talking, he’s always clowning, dancing around,” Smith said. “Just being around him, he’s a good kid and he gives us a lot on and off the floor. The other day in practice he wore a mask the whole time for some reason.

“He just does some different things that you just kind of tilt your head a little bit and you just keep pushing because it’s Devo.”

Those things provide a snapshot of the bright and fun personality of one of Arkansas fans’ favorite players. His love for the game and his home state shines through in his on-court play and in postgame press conferences.

Unprompted after a Feb. 2 win over Mississippi State, Davis touched on the personal joy that accompanies playing for the Razorbacks.

"This team is very fun to play with," he said. "I enjoy it, and I love this program."

When he takes the floor, more of his personality comes to light.

The freshman has periodically shown emotion after making electrifying plays, most notably following an and-1 in transition early in Arkansas’ win over Alabama and a similar sequence in the second half against LSU in Bud Walton Arena. His on-court celebration at Kentucky seconds after sealing the win with a last-second steal stands out as well.

Davis also let out a primal scream as he watched Smith’s windmill dunk against LSU.

And then there are the freshman’s apparel habits. Six times since Jan. 9 he has added or removed his headband mid-game, five times he has added or removed his undershirt, and twice he has worn a different pair of shoes in the second half than in the first.

In certain games, he wore his headband with the Nike logo right-side up. In others, the logo was upside-down. Shoes-wise, he came back to his trusty pair of Kyries in both instances. Davis claims he isn’t superstitious.

“The ones I’ve been wearing in the games, those shoes are the ones I won the dunk contest (before the Red-White game) in, so that’s why I’ve been wearing them, and they’re comfortable,” Davis said. “My pops got them for me like two years ago, but I wear them because they’re super comfortable. Whatever shoes feel comfortable. I’ve got like 20 pairs of shoes in my locker, but I choose to wear these.

“Until I see my toe coming out of them I’m going to keep wearing them, you know? And me and my pops talk about (switching it up) all the time. He said, ‘That Devo with the upside-down Nike sign, he’s something different.’ Then sometimes I come out and I don’t wear it and still do good, so we just talk about it and have fun with it, for sure.”

Arkansas second-year coach Eric Musselman loves being in Davis' aura. He carries with him an “insanely positive” personality, and Musselman isn’t exactly sure when the freshman rests.

Davis is often in the Razorbacks’ practice facility working out late at night, and he is quick to respond to Musselman’s early morning text messages to players.

“He's a bright light when he walks in the gym, when he walks into our team meetings on the road,” Musselman said. “It's a reflection of how he plays. He's the guy that if we're kind of walking in mud or we're leaking oil, he's the kind of guy that can help solve those problems for us just with his energy and his effort.”

In January, Musselman detailed a bit of the backstory to Davis, at one point an Oklahoma State commit, becoming a Razorback. When Arkansas’ staff learned the guard re-opened his recruitment, Musselman opted to offer Davis a scholarship in a personal way: face-to-face with family present.

Davis is big on family. He was raised by his mother, grandmother and grandfather. Davis has his mother’s name, Terrie, tattooed on his left wrist and his grandmother’s name, Yvette, on the right. His next tattoo, he said, will honor his grandfather.

“The excitement in his family, there were people that teared up and I could tell how powerful (the offer) was,” Musselman said. “It was an eye-opening experience for me to offer a scholarship to an in-state player and see family members actually come to tears. It was really powerful for me to see, for sure.”

Looking back, Davis not playing a primary role for Arkansas early in the season seems like ages ago. He said the start of the year was rough for him trying to find ways to get on the court and contribute, but he leaned on his inner circle for support and guidance.

Their advice was to stay the course and trust the process, which meant continuing to put in extra time and bringing his best behind closed doors in practice. He has done just that.

Davis places a great deal of emphasis on wanting to be exceptional — for himself, his family and Arkansas. At this rate, he is well on his way. Success drives him.

“Whatever it takes to be great,” he said. “If it’s jumping off a bridge into the ocean, I’ll do it. If that’s what it takes for me to be great, swimming across the ocean, whatever it takes, I’ll do it just because I want the best for me and my family.

“On the court as well. I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team out. Whatever puts us in the right place to win or be great, I’ll do it.”