University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooner Profile: Cade Davis
December 02, 2007 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. -- Like so many other freshmen, Cade Davis is just trying to get acclimated to college. But as a Division I athlete, not only does he face a more rigorous class schedule but he also must balance the demands of playing basketball.
For Davis however, the transition to college has been easier than it is for most. One of five local players on the team, Davis has an adopted family that consists of his teammates who have helped him along.
Regarded by most as the second-best senior in the state only to Blake Griffin last year, Davis followed the footsteps of Griffin in coming to OU. In fact, Davis said Griffin's decision to stay home was the determining factor for him choosing to play for the Sooners as well. You see, the two are best friends.
 "Dreaming about playing college ball was always a big deal, but getting to play here was even bigger." |
The two developed a close friendship while playing together on an AAU team the last couple years. It was only natural for both of them to come to Oklahoma with hopes of restoring the great tradition of the basketball program.
Davis' and Griffin's combination of talent and chemistry are what head coach Jeff Capel hopes will serve as the team's foundation for years to come. And by keeping the top local talent close to home, things will be on the right track sooner rather than later.
We caught up with Cade last week to talk about how the local guys on the team have helped him transition to college.
On how playing close to home influenced his decision to attend OU:
"It was a pretty big factor. It really wasn't set in stone that I was going to stay close to home but they showed some interest in me. After Sampson left, Coach Capel came in and he showed even a bigger interest in me. That was probably the biggest thing."
On how much pride he and the other local guys have in wanting to restore the tradition of OU Basketball:
"We have so much pride in Oklahoma. Obviously we're from here and want to give a good name to the University and to the state. We want to come out and play hard every night. There's a huge tradition here and we want to keep it going and add to it as much as we can."
On how much he followed the Sooners growing up:
"I was always a big Sooner fan when I was young. My family is even more hard-core now that I'm here. Dreaming about playing college ball was always a big deal, but getting to play here was even bigger."
On the direction the basketball program is headed:
"Getting recruits like Blake, and we just got a couple more high level recruits with Willie Warren and some of those guys -- I think that's a tremendous step in getting this program back to where it once was and where it needs to be."
On the biggest challenges he's faced in the transition to college:
"I would say the biggest thing has been time-management, just getting to class, getting all my work done and also having to balance basketball with all that. I'm just trying to keep up with everything -- everything is so much faster and you have more responsibilities."
On what he has learned from some of the older guys on the team that has made the transition easier:
"Mainly just that you have to stay focused. Obviously academics if first and foremost. That's the main reason we're all here. The coaches emphasize that and everyone else does as well. But once you come in here, it's all business. You have to put that aside and really focus on basketball. It's all a matter of staying focused and getting your stuff done. You can't be going out and doing all kinds of other things when you know you have stuff to do."
On whether that means missing out somewhat on the college experience:
"In some instances, yes, but I'm probably better off not going to some of those events I may be missing out on. In a way you'd kind of like to get out a little more but I love my teammates. These guys are fun to be around and the time we do have off we're always together so I think that's going to help us later on in the year."
On his relationship with some of the other local guys before coming to OU:
"I've known Blake and Taylor for a couple years now and I know their whole family. And obviously knowing (David) Godbold and Keith (Clark) and seeing them play in high school, I knew a lot of guys before I came here. Then during the recruitment process getting to visit with everybody, it really helped knowing that when I came here I already had people I know and trust and can build relationships with."
On the chemistry between the local players:
"I never played against them but I played with them in AAU with Athletes First during the summer. Pretty much everybody from Oklahoma who plays here played on that team at one point or another. Getting to travel together, we built the chemistry while playing with each other during the summer. When I decided to come here and then Blake, it just developed even more because I had friends I already knew and had played with."
On how much the Oklahoma guys recruited each other:
"The biggest factor was whether or not Blake was going to come here. He is the closest friend I have here so far and I knew him before anybody else. I was just kind of waiting to see what he did and I was really trying to get him to come here because this is where I did want to come. And Coach Capel is a tremendous coach and a great guy, so those were the biggest factors."
On his role on the team and what he wants to contribute this season:
"Right now I'm coming off the bench and just want to give good solid minutes. Defensively, I need to do a lot better and I think it's an area I can do well in and improve on. Offensively, my role is to spot up and hit open jump shots. I try to work my way around the arc and hopefully somebody will see me open. When I'm on the bench I'm an encourager and try to get everyone hyped up and everything, and when I get in I just need to play smart, knock down shots and contribute as much as I can."
