LaToya Davis

[Bob_Ballew]

LaToya Davis had an outstanding game against Baylor on Saturday. With her being a freshman, she really impressed me with her play. Of all the players on the court, she could have easily been the one that would be the most rattled in such a contest. I think Baylor may have been more focused on Pierson, Grant and Perkins and did not plan on the freshman to step up the way Davis did. Her defensive efforts came up big for Tech and obviously it had the biggest impact on the game. She is to be commended and she should get the nod for the Big XII Freshman of the Week.

[elfdenmom]

Thank you Zo, I totally agree with your assessment. Of course, I did not witness the play of freshmen on other Big XII teams so I can't make a fair comparison.

[Press]

Great point, Zo. I knew you didn't lead the Greater Houston area in scoring for three years and not be a pretty good player. Unfortunately, she never received some of the awards some of the other Houston kids got, therefore, she was a bit unknown in some parts. I just wish she was 6'4 or greater with her rebounding and ability to finish shots. LaToya has certainly limited some other veterans pt this year after coming on so strong.

[Bball Girl]

I've been so impressed with LaToya...she's worked so hard since the first practice when she seemed to get really frustrated...the skills were there, she just needed some coaching. She's a gem...works hard on both ends of the court, is really strong and athletic..she's a keeper in my book.

She's stuggling a bit with her fitness...you can see her sucking air after 4 or 5 minutes...but that will come.

[GrantFanTT]

As I was watching the game, I relized that if I hadn't known better, I would never have relized that Grant and Davis were both Freshman. They have so much control that most freshman don't have! TEch is going to have a good team the next 4 years for sure!

[JK]

Does anybody remember me saying that LaToya Davis was going to make a great impact this year for Tech? I said it last year when she was in HS and this year before the season started.

[two cents]

Good call, JK. There was also a poster on the Tech board who scouted Davis for us last year. That poster (wetfry) raved about her good hands and her ability to score in heavy traffic. She has a nose for the ball and basket. Against OU, at one point after she made a move along the baseline, Schuknecht and Wadsworth got good defensive position and between them got all 4 hands on the ball. Davis muscled it through, off the backboard and in. The play illustrated her strength, determination, and ability to use the backboard. Not in appearance, but in heart and hustle, she reminds me of Michi Atkins.

LaToya is soft-spoken and never passes an opportunity thank her teammates for what they have taught her in practice. I can't tell you how glad I am that she is at Texas Tech. She follows in a long tradition of players like her.

If I remember correctly, you were asking about Atkins toward the end of last season. The last I had heard of her, she was playing pro ball in Israel. However, that was a few years ago. Just this last Saturday, the '93 national championship team was honored and given a banquet. Michi who was a freshman on that team (hmmm...Davis is a freshman this year...) did not make the event. She gave birth to a baby boy a week ago last Wednesday.