Men’s Basketball: Johnell Davis declares for 2023 NBA Draft
On Monday, sophomore guard Johnell Davis became the second FAU Owl this week to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft, as he announced via Instagram.
“I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, faculty and staff, athletic administration, fellow students, and fans who have welcomed me with open arms to Boca Raton and the FAU community,” said Davis’ announcement. “FAU is and always will be my second home.”
With his announcement, Davis joins fellow sophomore guard Alijah Martin, who declared for the draft on Sunday night.
Both Davis and Martin are looking to become the first Owls drafted in the program’s 35-year history; However, they committed to returning to FAU if they choose to withdraw from the draft.
“I will ‘test the waters’ and enter the 2023 NBA Draft, while maintaining my NCAA eligibility to return to Florida Atlantic University next season,” read Davis’ announcement.
Davis, a Gary, Ind., native, has spent the past three seasons at FAU, and just as the team made a surprise emergence this year, so did he.
After averaging 6.8 points per game a season ago, this past year Davis burgeoned into, arguably, the best scorer on the roster, leading the team with an average 13.8 points per game.
He scored 15+ points on 15 different occasions this past season earning him the C-USA Sixth Player of the Year award and first team all-conference honors; But none of those performances were as memorable as his 29-point, 12-rebound outing against Fairleigh Dickinson University in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
That night Davis became the first player in tournament history to record 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in a single game, helping the Owls advance to their first Sweet 16 appearance in program history.
The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cameron Priester is the Sports Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email cpriester2020@fau.edu or tweet him @PriesterCameron
Latest University Press
- Farewell from UP Editor-In-Chief Sofia De La EspriellaI was very hesitant to write this letter because I’ll never forget that in one of my first journalism lessons in Colombia, the professor kept repeating: “Journalists are never the news. We are never in the spotlight.” But in this case, I felt the need to say goodbye properly and thank you. Three years ago,...
- FAU seeks input from faculty and staff in search of a new provostFlorida Atlantic University administrators hosted two listening sessions on April 30 to seek out qualities faculty and staff hope to find in the search for the new permanent provost to oversee academic affairs at the university. According to the FAU website, the provost leads the Office of the Provost, which “provides leadership to achieve excellence...
- Against all odds: FAU student Damian Richter’s journey with autismAfter being diagnosed with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder a month before his third birthday, Florida Atlantic University student Damian Richter is a living testimony to others that their disability does not define them. Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others and view the world. One in...
- FAU tree study hub: Experts discuss tree preservation and health benefitsThe “Tree of Life” is a classic study hotspot on the Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton campus. This tropical Ficus tree has a long history, with names carved into its pale brown bark and aerial roots stretching down from its branches in hopes of anchoring in the soil. For college students, this outdoor desk in...
- Trump administration reverses student visa revocations, including six FAU studentsIn recent weeks, the Trump administration revoked the visas of six Florida Atlantic University students, prompting concerns about their legal immigration status and potential deportation. However, FAU spokesperson Joshua Glanzer said all visa revocations have since been reversed. “We don’t have any information on why. That lies with the federal government,” Glanzer wrote in an...
- From notetaking to dodging critters: The co-existence of students and wildlife at Florida AtlanticLocated three miles from the beach’s shoreline, Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus holds over 29,000 students according to their website. Within the human population is an abundance of wildlife, from the nocturnal species of raccoons and coyotes to iguanas and burrowing owls. As students make their way to classes, they’re likely to catch a...