NCPreps.com - Jefferson adds a school, Hoyas still prominent

January 17, 2006

Davon Jefferson is doing fine at the North Carolina-based Patterson School. Since the Christmas break, he is averaging approximately "20 points and 8 rebounds" as a forward, while developing on and off the hardwood. Davon also indicated that "Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Kansas" and newcomer "SC (USC) comprise his college list, with an official visit hopefully arranged for the weekend of January 21st - coinciding with the Hoyas tilt with Duke.

As previously reported in HoyaReport.com, Davon went home to the Los Angeles area for Christmas, and enjoyed being with family and friends. He shared his mother, the no nonsense Sophia Rankins, "is doing real good", as are his cousin Chris Benton, and AAU coach, Rich Issacs.

Unfortunately, his ankle is not in the best of condition. Jefferson indicated he tweaked it "playing in a pick up game in my neighborhood", when last in Tinsel Town, and as a result explained "I couldn't really work out that much". Presently, "I still feel it a little" said Davon, though it is not debilitating enough to keep him off the court at Patterson.

While at this nationally recognized prep school in Lenoir, North Carolina, Davon has been a focused young guy. "It's just class and basketball" he said, with both facets of his life having benefited greatly. According to Jefferson, his GPA has increased significantly, as has his inner motivation to improve on the hardwood.

"I think it (his skill) set has improved by working on my own game" shared Davon. "I have to face the responsibility of working on my own game (without being directed to by coaches). I've learned to really focus in and force myself to work out". These workouts are in addition to practice time.

According to Jefferson, this is another adjustment to his attitude regarding basketball that has been developing since at least last summer. Then while in L.A., Davon started to realize he was a marked man. Before a "PANGO's game (a local summer event)", a player came up to him, and said "No hard feelings". Jefferson paid no attention to it, but during the contest noticed the guy was playing somewhat dirty. "He just wanted to play me rough" Jefferson said. "Every time I went up, he came under me", causing Davon to think that this player was going to attempt to undercut him.

In response, Jefferson steeled himself, indicating "I knew I had to go back to street ball then". He played very well in the game, and there was no lingering ill-will between him and the player in question, but a valuable lesson was learned from the experience; "It let me know people are going to come after me" and as such, "I have to work on my game". That mindset has been amplified at Patterson.

Such determination is a good thing in the present, since Patterson plays one of the most brutal schedules south of high Division I basketball. At the time of this writing, Patterson owned a prodigious 24-1 record, with a game against the talented South Kent Prep squad looming. Hoya Nation members may well want to catch Patterson's end of season showdown with none other than Hargrave Prep - the prep school home of Hoya signee Vernon Macklin - in Boone, North Carolina.

HoyaReport.com will be sure to follow up with Davon on his progress on and off the court, as well as that of his recruitment. He's a focused, talented 6 foot 9 inch, 210 pound young guy, who can bring a lot to a program. Given his plan of committing after this season, interest is sure to be hot and heavy for his services, and determination.

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