LA CROSSE — Neither Johnny Davis nor Jordan Davis are 100 percent positive where their immediate basketball futures will take place.
But both Central High School graduates were happy to be consumed by the moment of hosting a Davis Brothers basketball camp at Central this week. It was a three-day — parts of three days, anyway — escape from the professional side of things and a chance to help kids the same way they wanted to be helped as young athletes.
“This is always fun,” Jordan Davis said during a break between sessions on the first day of camp. “And with this being our fifth year, we’re always trying to make it more fun.
“We don’t just worry about basic fundamentals, even though that’s so important. We like to have games and competitions and help them find that love for basketball.”
The brothers were joined by Aquinas graduate Lexi Donarski and James Fox of Foxball for girls and boys sessions at Central’s Hackett Gym.
While Donarski is preparing for her first professional season in Budapest, Hungary, Johnny and Jordan are still working on their paths.
Johnny, who was drafted with the 10th pick by the Washington Wizards in 2022 after playing two seasons at Wisconsin. He played 112 NBA games while splitting time between the Washington roster and G League.
He averaged 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds while playing 11.4 minutes per game for the Wizards before he was traded to Memphis and cut. A return to the G League took him to the Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds over 7 games.
A fractured ankle sustained while playing at UW-La Crosse a couple of months ago has slowed Johnny down for a bit, but he will be ready to go at 100 percent soon before figuring out where his next stop will be.
“The logical next step is to just keep better and improving myself, not only as a basketball player but as a person and father, too,” he said. “I like being in this position.
“I get that I was a lottery pick and chosen 10th overall, but nothing was given to me and I really appreciate the grind that I’m about to go through.”
The smoothest transition to professional basketball, Johnny said, has been playing defense. Receiving the opportunity to show what he can do offensively has been tougher to obtain.
“I feel like I’ve been good at defending and can defend (point guard) through (small forward), maybe even (power forward) unless he is 7-1, 300 (pounds) like (Nikola) Jokic,” he said. “Defense is my calling card, but with shooting, being more consistent on 3s is something I’m always working on.
“There are other things, too, but the main thing that will get me on an NBA roster is my defense.”
But Johnny isn’t accepting sympathy for not getting immediate minutes and chances after being chosen two spots ahead of Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, three before Detroit’s Jalen Duren and others. Having a spot, he said, qualifies as an opportunity to make an impression on the right people.
“I feel like putting on an NBA jersey and stepping on the court if enough of a chance,” he said. “It doesn’t matter at what point of the game it is or what point of the season it is, everybody is given some kind of chance.
“I was given my chance and didn’t make the most of it.”
A handful of NBA teams have shown interest in giving Johnny his next chance, and Johnny has a workout with Portland early next week. There were a couple of others scheduled but his ankle injury interfered.
Jordan, who finished his collegiate career by averaging 4.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for Illinois State, said he has plenty of possible landing spots with teams overseas.
He began his summer by attending All-Star Weekend and taking part in some NBA workouts in Las Vegas after the Redbirds won the Purple College Basketball Invitational in March to highlight a 22-14 season.
“We were out there in front of all the NBA teams, and it was a surreal moment to be in that environment and have all those people watching,” he said. “We just ran some 5-on-5 in games to 15, and my team won two of the three we played.
“I feel like I did a really good job and showcased what I can do.”
Like his brother, Jordan hangs his hat on defense. He also shot 31.7 percent from the 3-point line and hopes to catch some eyes with his long-distance shooting.
“I think I can shoot and defend on a high level,” Jordan said.
Teams from England, France, Italy, Croatia and Australia have contacted Jordan about playing, and he will spend his immediate future talking to his agents and contemplating what each team has to offer.
