- November 6, 2024
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Heading into next week’s district tournament, Diajah Davis is averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Diajah Davis is proving to be one of the area’s top players, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. But it wasn’t an easy road to Flagler Palm Coast stardom.
As a freshman, Davis made varsity at her high school, in St. Augustine. She had been playing the sport for a few years by then, and though she was a freshman, she considered herself to be as good — if not better — than the guards starting on the team. But as the season wore on, she didn’t get much playing time. She had her differences with the coach and wasn’t having fun.
After the season, Davis decided to quit playing the sport she loved.
Quitting wasn’t something she was proud of. But she couldn’t handle playing another three years under the same coach.
After the school year, Davis’ family moved to Flagler County, and she was all set to transfer to Flagler Palm Coast High School in the fall.
FPC coach Javier Bevacqua had just finished his first season as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs.
That summer, Davis met Bevacqua and began working out with the team during summer workouts. Davis liked what Bevacqua was doing with the program.
Later that summer, Davis decided to try playing high school basketball again. She eventually made varsity as a sophomore, and was a starter.
Last season, as a junior, Davis was one of FPC’s top three players and was among the team leaders in all major statistical categories. But it wasn’t her team; it wasn’t quite her time to shine yet.
The Lady Bulldogs eventually lost in the district championship to DeLand, and then in the first round of the state playoffs. With two key seniors gone, though, Davis knew her senior year would be what she had been waiting for since being a freshman.
“I have always understood my role with this team,” Davis said during a practice Monday afternoon. “I didn’t think my previous coach was being fair because I worked hard and showed up to every practice.”
Bevacqua knew he had a special player when Davis moved to town that summer. Now, she has become his go-to player.
“She’s not afraid of the big moment,” Bevacqua said.
Earlier in the season, Davis was playing more of a forward, but she has since switched to guard.
In addition to her double-double, Davis is averaging five steals and four assists per game.
“Whenever we’re down, she will step up; she’s not afraid to take that big shot,” Bevacqua said.
Davis’ willingness to want to take that big shot will be critical as the Lady Bulldogs wrap up their regular season this week and head into the district tournament. Even more crucial will be Davis’ ability to shoot free throws.
Davis used to be a 35% to 40% free throw shooter. However, this summer, she hit the gym to improve on that flaw in her game.
“A lot of work went into it,” Davis said. “I came in with coach and shot 100 per day. I was constantly shooting free throws before practice, during practice, after practice. Then I’d go home to shoot more free throws.”
Hard work paid off. This season, Davis is shooting 73% from the charity stripe. (She was 120-for-160 on her foul shots heading into the Jan. 24 game against Atlantic.)
Davis went a perfect 13-for-13 from the foul line a few weeks ago when the Lady Bulldogs beat Pedro Menendez, 69-61. Also in that game, Davis scored a school-record 44 points. Davis referred to that game as “unbelievable.”
Smiling Monday afternoon, Davis spins the basketball on her hand. Just four years ago, she gave up playing the game she loved. But a renewed passion under a new coach and program could be her ticket to a college education — and another four years of competitive hoops.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Davis said in regard to winning a district championship. “It would be a blessing. ... All I want to do is win a championship before I graduate.”
