Davis shining at Chartiers Valley
Jayden Davis made his varsity basketball debut scoring 27 points in Chartiers Valley’s season opening loss to defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Upper St. Clair Jan. 10.
Since then, Davis is averaging 25.3 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals per game, all tops on his team.
Not bad for a freshman.
“Jayden is going to be a special player,” said CV head coach Brandon Sensor. “He’s a competitor.
“You don’t see freshmen with his athleticism, defensive motor and skill-set very often but what’s great about him is he wants to learn and improve,” Sensor continued. “As long as he continues to keep that attitude, he’s going to keep getting better and better.”
Davis hones his skills because he has big plans. He dreams of playing in the NBA after competing for a major Division I program.
“My long-term goals are to play in college and beyond,” he said. “That would be a dream come true.”
Davis understands he has time though. He maintains modest goals for the remainder of his scholastic career.
Despite starting the 2021-22 campaign with seven straight losses, Davis said he wants the Colts to finish with a .500-plus record and compete for the WPIAL Class 5A championship. CV reached the semifinals three years in a row and finished runner-up to rival New Castle in last year’s finals.
Noting the Colts already have played five of the top teams in the WPIAL, Davis said CV is prepared to make a playoff run.
“The tough schedule helped us,” he said. “We’ve learned how to face adversity and we are staying positive.”
Davis maintains an optimistic outlook for his career. He expects to surpass the 1,000-point plateau but prefers the Colts compete in at least two WPIAL championships before his scholastic career is complete.
To achieve his objectives, Davis said, “I have to keep working harder.”
Six years ago, Davis started to take basketball seriously.
“I watched my dad play and I liked it a lot,” said Davis.
Davis noted both his parents, Nicole and Donald, competed at the high school and collegiate level but it wasn’t until he joined AAU and started to travel around the country that his game, work ethic and desire blossomed.
Davis sharpens his skills through three-hour daily practices and personal workouts designed by his dad.
Since the seventh grade, Davis also played on the CV freshman squad.
So the transition to high school varsity basketball felt easy, Davis said.
“My parents have been so influential in my career and AAU prepared me a lot because you are competing against kids who are so advanced and as good or better than you,” said Davis.
Davis has encountered two of CV’s most distinguished alumni. He met TJ McConnell, who plays for the Indianapolis Pacers. He practiced against Brayden Reynolds, who is attending Western Reserve Academy after leading the Colts to the WPIAL finals last year by averaging 24.9 points per game and scoring 1,523 career points.
“I met (TJ) when I was younger and didn’t really understand who he was but as I got older he’s become a role model for what he does,” Davis said.
“I learned a lot from Brayden though. He was a leader on and off the court and communicating with his teammates. I want to be like that.”
Because of his competitiveness and motor Davis is on his way to becoming one of the best in CV history, Sensor said.
In a recent win against South Fayette, he had three steals off the ball and nine rebounds to go along with a game-high 26 points. Additionally, he converted 70% of his field goal attempts and dished up six assists. Davis maintained that percentage rate when he exploded for a career-high 46 points in an 83-76 victory against West Allegheny on Jan. 11.
“That’s efficient,” Sensor said. “What also makes Jayden special is how hard he plays on the defensive side of the court. He plays great on-ball defense.”
Sensor said Davis’ best basketball should come in the second half of the season as he continues to improve.
“Jayden is going to be a special player,” Sensor said. “He’s getting better and smarter each game. I’m excited to watch him grow for the next four years and really each game this season.
“He’s doing a great job of getting to the rim, scoring and putting up nice numbers for us. He’s starting to trust his teammates, play well without the ball in his hands, taking better shots and seeing the benefits of doing so,” he added. “He’s going to continue to improve and I’m excited to help him become a complete basketball player and grow as a leader.”
Age: 16
Parents: Nicole and Donald
Siblings: Quinn, 19, and Jackson, 8
Community: Scott Township
High school: Chartiers Valley
Year: Freshman
Sport: Basketball
Color: Green
Food: Pizza
Topping: Mushrooms
Book: “The Call of The Wild”
Movie: “Scream”
Favorite player: Russell Westbrook
Dream school: Texas Tech
Dream team: Golden State Warriors
Who will win the Super Bowl this year: The Bengals