by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College all-region standout Jalen Davis is taking his multiple basketball talents back to Texas.
A native of Houston, Davis has committed to the University of Texas-Tyler, an NCAA Division II university and a member of the Lone Star Conference.
“Closer to home and a chance to play for coach (Louis) Wilson. He’s a good man.” Davis said of his decision to commit to Tyler over offers from seven other schools. “It’s three-hour drive from Houston instead of 11 hours (to Kansas City).”
“I’m excited for him,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “He’s coming off a phenomenal season. And he’s in good hands with coach Wilson, who I know quite well.”
The relationship between the two coaches was key to Davis’ recruitment during the two months recruiting visits have been off limits because of the coronavirus.
“I’m a good friend of Brandon so I followed his team and monitored his players,” said Wilson, who has only seen Davis in action on video. “It’s difficult but not impossible.”
A 6-4 two-year starter, Davis played a major role in KCKCC winning its first Jayhawk Conference championship in the 50-year history of the league. The Blue Devils also won the Region VI championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division II national tournament for only the second time ever but were denied a chance to play in the national tourney because of the COVID-19.
In the Region VI playoffs, Davis scored 26 points in leading KCKCC to a 100-79 win over Labette in the semifinals and it was his 3-point goal and subsequent free throw that broke a 68-68 tie in the closing minute of the Blue Devils’ 75-68 win over Johnson County in the championship game. Six times he scored 24 or more points including highs of 28, 29, 30 and 31.
The Blue Devils’ scoring leader at 13.9 points a game, Davis finished 10th in the nation on free throw percentage (.851). He also shot 50.9 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point while averaging 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
“Jalen can do a lot of things,” Burgette said. “A top-notch athlete, he can play multiple positions and score at all three levels. Defensively, he can defend with the best of them. And at most positions. He’ll fit right with the style of play Tyler uses.”
“We play a very fast, up tempo style of basketball predicated on pressure and Jalen’s talents and skills fits very well into our program,” Wilson said. “First and foremost, he’s a Texas kid and has roots here. He has size, length and great versatility to play multiple positions. We think he has a chance to play very good defense in our system with his ability to guard three positions.”
Davis will be joining another former Blue Devil at Tyler, guard Solomon Thomas, who played the 2017-2018 season at KCKCC before transferring to North Central Missouri and then Georgia Southwestern State this past season.
A two-year all-state high school guard in Anchorage, Alaska, Wilson is no stranger to basketball in the Kansas City area. He played two years at Trenton Junior College (now North Central Missouri) and two years for Larry Holley at William Jewell in 1986-1988, playing on a 1986-1987 Cardinal team now in Jewell’s Hall of fame.
Wilson began his coaching career as an assistant at Southern Utah, Idaho State and California State Northridge before becoming head coach at NCAA Division II Adams State where in five years he compiled a 95-46 record. Before coming to Tyler this past season, Wilson was assistant coach at Utah State three years and one year as associate head coach at Grand Canyon University.