LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – For the last four years, Greenbrier East Spartan Monquelle Davis has become a familiar name to many.
From all-state honors in football to a gritty, quick guard on the basketball court, Davis has excelled in his time as a Spartan.
As a freshman, I gave him the nickname “Spark,” but it never seemed to catch on. Still, Davis was a spark as a youngster. When he entered the game, no matter which sport, good things happened.
This year, a low ankle sprain kept Davis out of his last career football game and also affected the start of his senior basketball season, as he missed several games because the injury.
“It was very upsetting that I didn’t get to play my last high school football game of my senior year,” Davis said.
But now, Davis is back and playing his best basketball of the season. He excels in space on the floor and breaking his man down off the dribble to blow by him and get to the rim, and that is how he describes his play.
“I play at a high level by creating because my teammates working the ball around gives me an open lane to do my thing on the court,” Davis said. “I want to be remembered as that kid that no one could guard.”
Guarding Davis has proved tough for a lot of his opponents because of his explosiveness with the ball, but he knows it will take teamwork to reach the goal he and his teammates have set.
“Stay together, trust each other and play as a team,” is the goal, he said.
One motivating factor working in the Spartans’ favor is that Davis plays for someone other than just himself, and that person pushes him to be the best he can be.
“My biggest motivation is my grandmother. She’s my number one fan,” he said proudly.
When the basketball season ends, Davis will have to reminisce about his playing days at East because they will be over, but there will be memories to look back on.
“My best memory this year is being with my brothers,” Davis said.
As for other years, he can’t pick just one. “My best moment in any other year would be all the years, because I loved the community that stood behind us,” he concluded.
After graduating from East, Davis is heading to WVU to study human science.
