<
>

De'Ron Davis picks Indiana over Mississippi State

ESPN 100 power forward De'Ron Davis announced Thursday that he will attend Indiana, choosing the Hoosiers over Mississippi State.

"I loved the family atmosphere at Indiana, and coach [Tom] Crean was the only coach that went to Parkhill, Colorado, to see my grandfather, in addition to visiting with me and my mother," Davis told ESPN.

Davis, the No. 47 player in the ESPN 100 and No. 1 player in the state of Colorado, starred at Overland High School in Aurora. A true power forward at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, Davis averaged 16.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per game in leading Overland to a state title as a junior.

"His versatility is his biggest asset," Overland coach Danny Fisher told ESPN. "He's a big, strong kid whose body is very intimidating. He knows how to use it well. So skilled, IQ is so high. He's good out to 17 feet, he can put the ball on the floor, make kickout plays. He makes reads for other people . . . He prides himself on making the right play."

Davis joins fellow ESPN 100 selection Curtis Jones (No. 55) and three-star sharpshooter Grant Gelon in the Hoosiers' 2016 recruiting class. Indiana and Mississippi State were the only official visits for Davis.

"The No. 1 thing is his relationship with Coach Crean," Fisher said of the factors in Davis' decision. "They offered him before he stepped foot in high school. Indiana has been so consistent in their message in how much of a priority he is for them. As he's grown, they've been there every step of the way. They've been a part of his process throughout his high school career. That relationship in itself is huge."

"On my visit, I liked how Coach Crean kept talking to me during practice," Davis said. "On every water break and timeout, he came over to me and pointed out things on how I would fit and how to improve and expand my game."

Davis' commitment moves Indiana from No. 38 to No. 15 in ESPN's class rankings.