Re: Larry Davis

[Michael Ryan]

My thoughts are in the new article I just posted as you were hitting "send".


--
Mike Ryan


On 4/3/06, address@hidden <address@hidden> wrote:
> I know that there are probably some great reasons why Mick hired Larry
> Davis, but can someone please fill me in?  From the outside, this doesn't
> look like such a great hire (to me).
>
> He is a nine year head coach at Furman, and has a 124-139 career record
> there (losing record)?
>
> Well, as I am typing this...I am doing some research.  Check out his bio
> on this link
> .http://furmanpaladins.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/davis_larry02.html
>
> I at first wanted to see some sexy names...like former UC players (Corie,
> Andre Tate) or at least someone from a successful smaller school.  But then
> I found some solid reasons why Mick got Davis.
>
> 1.) He was an assistant at Minnesota prior to Furman "where he played a
> key role in the recruitment of several outstanding players, including 1996
> Associated Press All-American and Big Ten Player-of-the-Year Bobby Jackson,
> All-American Quincy Lewis, and standout Charles Thomas."
>
> 2.) Experience: Prior to his stint at Minnesota, Davis served in assistant
> coaching capacities at Ball State University (1993-94), Wake Forest
> University (1989-93), and the University of Delaware (1985-89).
>
> 3.) Nancy will like him. "Larry Davis is uniquely qualified to lead the
> Furman basketball program. He is excellent in every phase of the job --
> academic development, coaching skills, recruiting, media relations,
> fund-raising -- he can truly do it all. His greatest asset, however, is deep
> commitment to his players and their development as people, both on and off
> the basketball court."
>
> 4.) He can recruit Foreign players...something UC has never done. At
> present four of Davis' former players -- Karim Souchu (Belgium), Guilherme
> Da Luz (Brazil), and Maleye Ndoye (France), and Nick Sanders (Holland) are
> playing professional ball. All-Southern Conference forward Maleye Ndoye
> also.
>
> 5.) And perhaps more importantly, he has some recruiting connections.  "A
> year later (after graduate degree) he moved on to prep basketball powerhouse
> Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where in two seasons he compiled
> an outstanding 51-9 record while developing the talents of a dozen future
> NCAA Division I players. His 1985 squad, which ranked fifth nationally,
> included Parade All-Americans Rod Strickland (DePaul) and Michael Jones
> (Auburn).
>
> Granted a lot of Oak Hill guys didn't go to Furman, but the chance of them
> coming to UC are much higher, simply because it's a MAJOR school.
>
>
> If Mick can recruit the Adidas circuit, local circuit and Davis can
> recruit Oak Hill and Foreign players...then UC is in for loads of talent
> coming there way.  Mick is setting up an infrastructure.
>
> As opposed to Huggins.  He's putting all his eggs in one basket.  What
> happens after OJ, Walker, and Beasley go pro after 1 year and he's stuck
> with a staff of all their relatives/coaches?
>
> Any other thoughts?