Mike Davis' decision pays off for Illinois

This season he has four double-doubles and scored a career-high 28 points in the two-point loss to Clemson, now ranked 10th.

His father believes summer competition against the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant and several Georgetown players, including former Hoya Jeff Green, helped build Davis' confidence.

"He thought, 'Hey, I can play with these guys,' " his father said.

Davis has carved out a niche with 12-foot shots and baseline jumpers. His height and long arms enable him to get shots off. The short jumpers and put-backs are the reason he's shooting a solid 53.5 percent.

chicagotribune.com