Despite a 5-11 record, the Lady Sharks have displayed several bright spots that continue to give the team hope that they will turn their season around.
Channel Davis, a 19-year-old sophomore guard, is one such bright spot. She is averaging 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
“She is a big guard that can score and rebound from the perimeter and that makes her a strong threat,” said Sharks Head Coach Susan Summons.
Davis, who grew up in Detroit, Michigan, has been playing basketball since she was eight.
“All my family members played basketball and as I started playing I learned to love the game,” Davis said.
Besides playing basketball at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Davis also played for an Amateur Athletic Team (AAU) called the Motor City Suns. Her AAU team went on to compete in Disney World.
Teammates say Davis’ relentless style of play is what makes her so productive.
“She hustles up and down the court and if she misses the shot she would follow it up and result the shot in an and-one foul,” said teammate, Vernessa Hinnant, a sophomore forward/guard. “We need plenty of that to make it to State.”
During her high school basketball career, Davis tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) twice, requiring three surgeries. The first tear resulted when she was undercut during a layup. The second injury occurred as a result of her returning too soon after her first recovery.
Even though Davis did not play much during high school due to the surgeries, she was still offered a scholarship to play at Miami Dade College by Summons.
“I play without any worries,” Davis said. “I wear a knee brace and get help from Laura Ramus. I’ve been seeing her since the third surgery and meet up with her when I visit Michigan.”
Ramus was formerly a Head Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach for the WNBA Detroit Shock.
Davis aspires to continue on to the WNBA. She is focused on her current opportunity with the hopes of transferring, with a scholarship, to a Florida university so she can stay nearby.
“I’m comfortable here with a good support system,” Davis said. “I don’t want to have to uproot this and have to re-adjust.”
The pre-nursing major also plans on becoming an OBGYN and taking an internship this upcoming summer at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan.
“I wanted to be able to make money while still going to school” Davis said.
In the meantime, Davis is concentrated on the rest of the season. Although the team has a losing record, it is 2-0 in conference play.
“As a team we can work on communicating and getting back on defense,” Davis said. “Personally I need to work on my defense. I need to move my feet instead of my hands and make better shot selections.”
