Sophomore Eric Davis Jr. Must Be a Leader for Texas Basketball

Shaka Smart is gearing up for his second season with Texas basketball. There is a justifiable buzz around the program heading into 2016-17. The Longhorns will be young but Smart is rebuilding the program in his vision. To find success, however, the team will need leadership from Eric Davis Jr.

Smart was able to sell Davis on sticking with his commitment to Texas when he came on board as part of the No. 15 class in 2015. Davis’ athleticism and playmaking ability are cornerstones to what Smart wants to do. He wants to build the Horns into an up-tempo, pressure-oriented team that is constantly create an advantage. An athletic wing player like Davis is perfect for this system.

Davis responded well in his freshman season, finishing the year with 7.4 points per game while averaging 20 minutes per game. He played his best against top competition, scoring a season-high 19 points against then-No. 25 Texas A&M and 16 points in the upset over then-No. 3 North Carolina. He has the ability to score and will get many more opportunities this season.

There’s going to be an expanded role for Davis on this team after Texas lost six key players from last season, including the team’s top three scorers. Davis will be asked to step into the void left by Isaiah Taylor. Last season’s top scorer left for the NBA after averaging 15 points per game. Davis, alongside fellow sophomores Kerwin Roach and Tevin Mack, will be the leaders of a team looking to press the issue in a wide open Big 12.

Texas will be young but their potential is sky high. For Smart and the Longhorns to build on their success from year one, they need Eric Davis to step up in a major way.