For Immediate Release: Monday, April 21, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director (956) 381-2240

DAVIS JOINS MITCHELL IN BEING HONORED BY I-AAA DIRECTORS

EDINBURG, TX-Senior guard James Davis (Oklahoma City, OK/Casady HS/Westark CC) has become the second member of The University of Texas-Pan American men's basketball team to be honored by the NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Directors' Association.

Davis has received honorable mention for the inaugural NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Director's Association Scholar-Athlete Team. He joins Bronc senior guard Kevin Mitchell (Copperas Cove, TX/Copperas Cove HS/McLennan CC), who was one of 20 student-athletes named to the inaugural team recently.

Davis was one of 11 student-athletes receiving honorable mention. Basketball players from all Division I-AAA Athletic Directors' Association member institutions were eligible for these prestigious awards. Division I-AAA schools are those members of NCAA Division I that do not sponsor football.
Davis completed his career at Texas-Pan American this spring. He currently has a 3.64 grade-point average, is majoring in English, and will graduate in May.

A starter as a senior, Davis played in 29 of the Broncs' 30 games last season, missing the other due to injury. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while leading UTPA with 3.8 assists and finishing third with 46 steals, just two behind the team leader. He regularly was assigned to the opposition's top guard, and he averaged 26.9 minutes per game, which left him tied for third on the team. He scored a career-high 14 points while playing all 40 minutes against Quinnipiac, and had a career-best six steals against Central Baptist.
"It's always good to be recognized, but it's almost like being recognized for something that you're supposed to do," said Davis. "I take academics very seriously. I don't expect anything less than As and Bs. It's quite an honor to be recognized, and I really appreciate the honor."

"James has done a tremendous job in the classroom, and put himself in a position to be very marketable when he graduates," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "He has worked hard, and helped us immensely with out program."

"James is very deserving of this acknowledgement by the 1-AAA Athletic Directors' Association," said UTPA Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support and Student Services Chris Uchacz. "In the three years James has been at UTPA, he has distinguished himself as one of our top students within the Athletic Department. More importantly, he will graduate on time this May, which can be a challenge for transfer student-athletes, with a major in English and a minor in Geology. We are very proud of James and his many academic accomplishments, and I know he will do well in whatever career path he chooses."


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