Newly signed Geelong Supercats import John Davis hopes a season in the SEABL will provide the boost his career needs after a drive-by shooting ended his college basketball career in 2017.
On Feb. 11 2017, Davis, then a senior, was shot in the knee in a reported drive-by shooting Saturday night as he stood near his home in south Philadelphia among a group of family and friends.
Davis had stopped by to visit his family, including his 9-month-old son Bryce, after his college team Towson had played a game at Drexel earlier that day. Davis had led the Towson Tigers to a 69-65 victory finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Davis was looking forward to attending the christening of his 9-month-old son, Bryson Hunter Davis-Harris, which had been planned around Davis’s trip home.
“Everything was perfect. We went back to my mom’s house and a bunch of us were standing outside talking, reminiscing at about 10:30, when this car slowed down driving past us. I really didn’t notice it because I was talking.
“I remember someone saying, ‘Who’s in that car?’ but didn’t pay much attention because I was talking. The car left, then a couple minutes later, it was back. Next thing I knew I heard shots. We all took off running.”
The injuries suffered from that drive-by shooting ended his Tigers career, the winningest four-year run in the program’s Division I era.
In September 2017 Towson attempted to revive his career by attending an Aussie Basketball Combine held in Philadelphia, a talent identification camp run by Philadelphia’s Athletes in Action and the Geelong Supercats coaching staff.
Since graduating, Davis had focused all efforts on getting stronger, improving his basketball skills and spending time with family. He was rewarded with a contract from the Supercats and now hopes to revive his career in Australia.
“I can’t wait,” said Davis upon receiving his offer from the Supercats.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to play again and get back on the court. It’s exciting because I believe I am back to 100 percent. It’s going to be fun playing with a team again.”
He finished his college basketball career with 1,117 career points (20th in program history) and 713 rebounds (seventh in program history). He is one of six players in program history to have amassed at least 1,000 career points and 700 rebounds.
Davis signed will join former NBL star Nathan Herbert and fellow import DeMarcus Gatlin who returns for his third straight season in Geelong.