At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight Jemal Davis of Liberty Heights.
Although basketball has gradually shifted away from 'traditional' post prospects, the big man position is still just as valuable as ever. Even guys who fall under that traditional umbrella, like Davis, have an obvious amount of appeal at the next level. He's long, athletic, and still truly just beginning to harness his overall potential. Right now, Davis is an extremely reliable rebounder and rim-protector with IQ, touch, timing, and fluidity. He runs the floor properly in transition and hunts for any possible putback opportunities, which often leads to poster-level dunks on opposing big men. Davis is not going to look to breakdown someone off the dribble or take step-back threes, but rather just embrace his identity as a skilled low-post threat with the ability to step out and knock down perimeter jumpers. That being said, Davis is only going to get better over the next few years by adding physical strength on a college weight program.
We've seen Davis shine with Liberty Heights a considerable amount of times over the past six months, including at our Hoops and Dreams Showcase, where we stated: 'Few teams in North Carolina can match the amount of raw talent that Liberty Heights possesses, and Davis is a massive part of that. He's probably underrated in the bigger scheme of things, but a long, athletic, 6-foot-9 post prospect has an obvious place at the Division I level. Davis embraces his identity on the block, able to consistently secure position despite a lack of strength, get separation, and utilize his blend of touch and footwork around the basket. He's also a very reliable two-way rebounder and rim-protector that moves exceptionally well for his size.'
Since then, Davis' stock has only continued to boost. He's collected four Division I offers from the likes of Quinnipiac, Mississippi Valley State, South Carolina State, and Eastern Michigan. His transfer to Liberty Heights (and play thereafter) opened a ton of doors and opportunities for Davis. However, it genuinely feels like just the start of his overall progression. There are dozens of scholarship-holding coaches that could easily utilize a guy like Davis, so the remainder of his recruitment will be interesting to watch unfold.