Anthony Davis reveals the growth spurt that changed everything for him: "By the time summer was over, I was No.1 in the country"
Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis was the No.1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after a one-and-done season with the University of Kentucky. In college, AD helped the Wildcats win the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament while earning Final Four MVP honors.
However, before Anthony became a star in college and the NBA, he was an ordinary high school basketball player who was looking to catch a break and earn a spot on a Division I NCAA team. Davis did get that break, and during his appearance on the 'Join the Lobby Podcast,' the Lakers big man talked about the summer that changed his fortunes.
"Going to my senior year in high school, I had that summer where I grew 7 inches," revealed Davis. "At that time, I was like 300 and like 82nd in Chicago, and then by the time summer was over, I was No.1 in the country."
Anthony went from 6'3'' to 6'10'' in one summer
AD played high school basketball at Perspectives Charter School in Englewood. He was listed at six feet tall as a freshman and at 6'3'' after his junior year. Because he wasn't a highly recruited high schooler, Davis said that he had to put together a highlight reel video of himself to get noticed by schools.
Anthony said he sent the tapes to mid-tier Division 1 schools like Drake, Butler, and Cleveland State, even verbally committing to the latter. But then, going into his senior year, he grew to become 6'10'', and that's when everything blew up.
"It was just like, I don't know. It was real surreal," added AD, "To the point (where I could go ) to any college you can think of. It was just a wild summer, and that's when I realized, like, 'Okay, I could make it to the league with this,' and just stayed at it and ended up being…And the rest is history."
Final Four MVP
With offers left and right, Davis narrowed down his choices to Kentucky, Ohio State, and Syracuse. But when John Calipari went to his house to make his pitch, Coach Cal blew AD away.
"Coach Cal came to my house, and he sat down," recalled Anthony. "He said, 'Listen here, I understand who you are, No. 1 player. You know we would love to have you, all this stuff, whatever, but you got to earn your spot on my team. Nothing's given, you got to earn it', and it was something about that saying right there that was like, 'That's where I want to be'".
Davis ended up going to Kentucky, and the Wildcats went 38-2 that year. They won the 2012 NCAA men's basketball tournament by defeating Baylor 82-70 in the championship game. AD won Final Four MVP honors after scoring 18 points and adding 11 rebounds, one steal, and six blocked shots in the title game. Anthony decided to enter the 2012 NBA Draft and was picked first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans.
