What to expect from FAU transfer Johnell Davis

For those who follow college basketball closely, Arkansas basketball’s latest commitment from the NCAA transfer portal needs no introduction.

The Razorbacks and John Calipari have picked up a pledge from former Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis. On3.com considered Davis, who has signed with the program, the top available player in the portal prior to his commitment.

Davis (6-4, 203) possesses pro-level qualities and is likely to be a first- or second-team preseason All-America selection ahead of the 2024-25 season. And, without question, can be a cornerstone piece on Calipari’s first team in Fayetteville.

Davis, whose name is in the 2024 NBA Draft, spent the last four seasons with the Owls and burst onto the scene as one of the most gifted and intriguing players in the sport during the program’s run to the Final Four in 2023. He then averaged a career-high 18.2 points on 41.4% from three-point range, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in his final season at FAU.

Davis was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2023-24 and the league’s Sixth Man of the Year the season before. Nick Wilson, who covers the Owls for The Palm Beach Post, told Natty State Sports that Arkansas is getting “a gamer” in Davis.

“I think if the Northwestern game [in the NCAA Tournament in March] is folks’ first time seeing him, they won’t know what to expect for next year,” Wilson said of Davis, who had 18 points and nine turnovers in the loss. “But the kid is legit and just might get some NBA traction under Calipari despite being short for the next level and not being an eye-popping vertical athlete.

“His game flows, and I think Calipari will make the most of a seasoned guard that can play any style of offense.”

Wilson added that Davis can come across as standoffish. But it’s because he is hyper-focused on his craft.

“A little story that highlights that is after a Final Four run, obviously a first-round exit in the conference tournament [this March] can be frustrating,” Wilson said. “[FAU] played and lost on a Saturday night in Texas and traveled home on Sunday in time for the NCAA Tournament selection show. The school hosted media to watch and speak to players and Coach Dusty May. The show ends and most media are out talking to players, except one — Johnell, who has the shooting machine set up in the back side of the gym and isn’t talking to anyone. 

“Most media leaves around 8-ish, but I stayed until around 9:30-10 p.m. The entire time I was there, Nelly was in the gym sweating out the loss that he had a game-ending turnover in after traveling from Texas that morning. He must have been in the gym for four, five hours. The kid just wants to hoop.”

Davis is a legitimate three-level scorer who shot 48.3% from the field last season with a usage rate north of 27.0%, according to KenPom data.

Wilson said Davis is efficient from deep even with opponents locked in on him. The guard has great form on his jumper and “doesn’t take dumb shots,” he added.

“He plays inside the offense really well when he’s a guy that could just run pick-and-roll every time down and be just as efficient,” Wilson said. “There aren’t many glaring weaknesses. He just will have stretches where he can’t get it going. But he won’t play an entire bad game.

“He finds a way to get going at some point.”

Turnovers can be an issue for Davis, who had 16 games with 4-plus giveaways the last 2 seasons. But Wilson isn’t all that concerned about the guard’s ball handling and decision making.

Of his 97 turnovers last season, he estimated over half were the fault of teammates, who either dropped the ball or weren’t prepared for a feed.

“He has great vision,” Wilson said. “In a Calipari offense with other high-level guys, don’t be surprised if he has a 2:1 [assist-to-turnover] ratio.”

On the defensive end, Davis is more than capable. He was second on the Owls in steals with 49 and 12th in the AAC in steals per game.

Davis, who played a team-high 1,095 minutes, also owned the third-best defensive rating (103.6) among FAU’s top pieces. He has a frame that can give opposing guards trouble on the perimeter.

“He has really active hands in the lane,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy that understands the game and the little nuisances on both sides. He never really gives up on defense and runs the break really well.

“He’s a great rebounder for a guard because of his frame, and he likes starting the break.”