As a graduate senior with Final Four experience, it is no surprise to see Florida Atlantic transfer guard Johnell Davis emerging as an early leader for Arkansas basketball.
A multi-conference first-team all-league selection, former Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year and AAC Player of the Year, Davis was the top-ranked transfer to enter the portal in the spring, according to On3.com.
While Davis’ resume speaks for itself, he has earned a reputation since his arrival at Arkansas during the summer as a gym rat who who leads by example as the elder statesman on the roster.
“On the court, he’s a great leader,” said junior wing Adou Thiero. “He comes in and sets the tone and shows us you have to be in the gym every day. He has a great work ethic, and we try and follow after him.
“We call him ‘Unc’ because he’s the uncle of the team. Off the court, too, he’s telling us about how connected you have to be as a team to make it far in March. We try and listen to that and build our team chemistry together and build that brotherhood.”
Davis’ approach to his craft has rubbed off on backcourt mate and incoming McDonald’s All-American Boogie Fland, who is adjusting to the physicality he will see in the SEC as a freshman.
“He’s been like a big brother to me,” said Fland. “He’s been to the Final Four. So, just showing me the way. Showing me how to go out there and do me.
“The physicality is different, and you’re going to have to play through some bumps. There will be ups and downs, but as long as you look past it and get through it you’ll be fine.”
When first-year head coach John Calipari walks into the gym, Davis is typically there putting in work. He profiles as Arkansas’ leading scorer and top three-point shooting threat.
Despite Davis’ big-game experience, Calipari believes there is another level to his game that can be unlocked and has been challenging him regularly in summer workouts.
“Nelly lives in that gym,” Calipari said. “He’ll work out 2-3 times a day. Can really shoot it. What I love is making him uncomfortable. Because when he’s uncomfortable, he’s uncomfortable, and you can see it.
“I can say to him this is what you have to overcome. We’ve got to make you comfortable being uncomfortable because now you can be an attack dog.”