Whether a swish or clang, things are different now when hoopster Stacy Davis puts in some jump shooting work on the hardwood.
Pepperdine University’s all-time leading basketball scorer has worked out on the basketball court with teammates or coaches most of the time during his four years as a Wave. However, now that he is working toward a professional basketball career, Davis said a lot of his shooting is done alone.
“It’s important to hold yourself accountable,” the Class of 2016 Pepperdine graduate said before a light shoot-a-round at the school’s Firestone Fieldhouse. “Not only do you have to chase the ball when you miss, but you have to keep yourself inline. If you say to yourself, ‘You are going to make 10,’ you have to make sure they are a good 10. Sometimes you have to regulate yourself. Holding yourself accountable is a big mental thing.”
After a stellar Waves career that featured wins, awards, 1,786 points and 994 rebounds, the forward is working toward the next stage in his basketball life.
Davis said his ultimate goal is to make it to the NBA, and he accepts whatever path helps him reach the highest level of pro hoops.
“It may be a different path that I have to take,” he said. “I may not play in the NBA right out of college, but I’m going to be where I’m supposed to be and put where I’m supposed to be. At the end of the day, if I put the work in and have the right mindset, everything is going to work itself out.”
Davis said since the close of the Waves season in March, he has spent most of his nights and days honing his hoops craft. He decided to stay in California for training in order to reduce distractions and have access to facilities like Pepperdine’s gym.
So instead of rising every morning from his bed at his parents’ home in Laveen, Ariz., he wakes up at 7 a.m. every morning on his grandmother’s Los Angeles-area couch. The first thing he does is stretch. Then, he heads to Proactive Sports Performance in Westlake Village to begin his strength workout. The day continues with jump shots and ball handling work and doesn’t end until he is back on the couch at midnight.
The 21-year-old’s father, also named Stacy Davis, said his son is putting in the work to be successful. The elder Davis, who coached his son when he was younger, said during a phone call with The Malibu Times that his son really wants to see where basketball can take him in life.
“He wants to get better,” said the senior Davis. “He is a gym rat. We were texting back and forth just now, and he said once he is done watching the NBA playoff game, he is going to work out again.”
The younger Davis piled up points and rebounds in college by playing in the paint for Pepperdine. Due to his height, NBA and pro teams overseas are going to expect him to be able to play on the perimeter as well, away from the towering players that even the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Davis will have to look up to.
Davis said in past summers, he always spent time working on his jump shot and ball handling. He said he is ready to show teams he can do those things effectively on the pro level, along with playing defense.
“I have to make sure I’m fine tuning everything and the details are right,” he said. “For example, if I’m dribbling the ball and I make a move, I have to dip my shoulder low and have a lower center of gravity to get past my defender. The most minute thing matters.”
The former Pepperdine star had his first NBA pre-draft workout on May 23 with the Phoenix Suns in his home state of Arizona. He said the workout went well and that “hopefully, it leads to more workouts.”
Davis said he has only taken one full week off from basketball since Pepperdine’s basketball season came to an end by way of a 79-72 loss to Eastern Washington in the College Basketball Invitational.
During his final season collegiate season, Davis led Pepperdine to an 18-14 record. He averaged 15 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. He is tops on Pepperdine’s all-time points list and second on the rebounds list.
Davis’ dad said he is excited about what comes next for his son.
“My joy is just watching him play,” the father said. “I’m really proud of him.”