Davis decides to run it back with Flashes

The Kent State men’s basketball program and Von Cameron Davis announced on Wednesday that Davis will be returning to Kent State for his final season.  Davis had entered the transfer portal on March 22.  The website theportalreport.com reported that Davis had heard from Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, Loyola Chicago, Florida Gulf Coast, Portland and others.

Davis was perhaps the most consistent performer for Rob Senderoff this season.  Fans and coaches alike knew what Davis was going to bring night in and night out and would offer up a level of physicality the Flashes needed.  Davis helped carry the Flashes to the MAC Championship game this season, scoring 26 points in a quarterfinal win against Toledo, and 21 points in a championship game loss to Akron. 

It’s a credit to Coach Senderoff, his staff and most importantly Davis, that he developed into the low post presence the Flashes needed to be successful and to make a run this past season.  Davis did a good job of identifying defenses in the MAC Tournament.  If he got single coverage, it was his chance to make a play.  If he was doubled, he made Toledo pay with passes out of the double team for perimeter shots.  His assist to turnover ratio improved throughout the year.

Most elite teams in the Senderoff era have included a dominant post player.  The exception was in 2022-2023.  But the key was guards Sincere Carry and Malique Jacobs were so good in their barkley (guard back down post ups) game, they could serve as a post presence.  The real key is they could draw fouls and so can Davis.    

Davis was the 2020 Mr. Basketball award winner coming out of Walnut Ridge High School in Columbus.  He’s the only Mr. Basketball from the state of Ohio to come to Kent State and just the second overall since Chet Mason went to Miami to play for Charlie Coles.

In many ways, Davis is the prototypical player that has had success in the MAC.  6-5 and 230 pounds, he’s physical enough to play in the post and skilled enough to play on the perimeter.  That versatility also serves him well on defense as he can defend on the perimeter and also in the post.  A big key this past season with Davis was his improvement in three point shooting.  Davis went from a 25.5% three point shooter in 2022-2023 to 33% in 2023-2024.  

In many ways, Davis is the prototypical Kent State player.  A player that has continued to work, continued to improve and is a product of his own hard work, but also the player development work of the staff.  In this “instant gratification” culture, it would have been easy for Davis to have transferred out of Kent long ago.  After the season he just had, nobody would have thought twice about him trying to capitalize in an NIL payday at a bigger school.  Senderoff speaks frequently about the fact that Davis played less than a minute in the 2021-2022 season opener at Xavier.  By the end of that season, he was starting in the MAC Championship game.

With his decision to return, he is poised for a huge senior season.  Davis will have a chance to compete for league player of the year honors if Kent competes at the top of the standings.  Most importantly, Davis and his teammates have a chance to be at the top of a ladder in downtown Cleveland in March of 2025.  If both those things happen, Davis may have his number in the rafters of the M.A.C. Center.  Welcome back Von.  Team 109 awaits.