By Bert Leeson

The Arkansas Razorbacks have had a very successful program since the energetic and popular Eric Musselman hit Fayetteville back in the 2019-20 season.

The Hogs have gone 20-12. 25-7, 28-9, 22-14 with NBA prospects all over the court and being an elite program in the SEC and college basketball.

However, this season, the team has hit the skids in the basketball-crazed city with a record of 10-10 and a disappointing 1-6 in the conference.

Shock and sadness hit the team and fanbase before Saturday’s loss at home, 63-57 to #6 Kentucky that star guard Devo Davis had stepped away from the program. It was announced in a short, one-sentence release by the Communications Staff.

The 6’4 senior has been a consistent player in four years with the Razorbacks. But during the current 2023-24 season, Davis has started 18 games but is averaging career lows in scoring (6.3 PPG) and shooting (35.5%).

This whole season has been a mystery to all college basketball fans who know that Arkansas stands for winning. The Hogs opened the season ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP poll.

The started off at 4-3 beating #7 Duke on November 29, 80-75. And during the exhibition season beat Purdue and Zach Edey, in OT on October 28, 81-77. Those two games held promise for the season.

But then the unexplainable loss occurred to UNC Greensboro and the 6 in the SEC.

No timetable has been given for how long Davis will be away from the program.

THE DAVONTE DAVIS FILE

High School:
• Was rated the 86th-best incoming freshman in the nation and the 19th-best shooting guard by ESPN.com
• Was rated the 103rd-best incoming freshman in the nation and the 15th-best combo guard by 247Sports.com Composite
• Was rated the 125th-best incoming freshman in the nation and the 29th-best shooting guard by Rivals.com
• Was rated the 153rd-best incoming freshman in the nation and the 20th-best combo guard by 247Sports.com
• 2020 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Boys Player of the Year
• 2020 Hogville.net’s Arkansas Boys High School Co-Player of the Year (with Jaylin Williams)
• 4-time All-State, including 2-time Democrat-Gazette first team All-State (all divisions)
• 2020 MaxPrep 1st Team All-State
• 2019 USA TODAY first team All-State
Averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals per game in his senior season … Led the Titans to a 20-5 overall record and the 5A-Central Conference title with a 13-1 mark … Jacksonville also reached the Class 5A state championship game … Scored in double figures every game and had 17 double-doubles in points and assists … Even more impressive, he registered seven triple-doubles … Earned his fourth All-State honor in 2020 and was named to the 2020 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first-team All-Arkansas team (all classes) … Named to the 2019 USA TODAY All-Arkansas first team as a junior as he averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and six assists per game … Overall, he is a four-time Arkansas Activities Association All-State selection, making the 2019 and 2020 5A team with Jacksonville HS and the 2A teams in 2017 and 2018 while playing at Jacksonville Lighthouse … As a sophomore, Davis averaged 18.4 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals … As a freshman, Davis averaged 16 points and seven rebounds in leading Lighthouse to conference and regional championships as well as the Class 2A state semifinal … He played for Woodz Elite in the Nike EYBL

Personal:
Born Sept. 24, 2001, in Jacksonville, Ark. … Son of Terrie Davis and Grandson of Yvette Davis … Plans to major in recreation and sport management.

AT ARKANSAS

Devo Davis 2022-23 Season Bio/Stats

Devo Davis Career Game-By-Game Stats

SEC Academic Honor Roll 3x:  First-Year (2020-21), Winter (2021-22) and Winter (2022-23).
• Department’s Honor Roll 4x (3.0-3.49 GPA): Fall ‘20, Spring ‘21, Fall of ‘21 and Fall ‘22.
• The only Razorback play in each of Arkansas’ Back-to-Back-to-Back SWEET 16 runs.
• Just the 9th Razorback to reach 900+ points, 400+ rebounds, 200+ assists & 100+ steals in his Arkansas career
• In his first 81 career games: 29-of-126 (.230) 3PT and averaged 8.3 ppg (670 pts) … His last 21 games was 40-of-97 (.412) fron 3PT and averaged 12.9 ppg (271 pts)

Junior (2022-23):
• Voted to the SEC ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
• Named the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll
• Played in 35 games with 31 starts … Averaged 10.9 points and 4.4 rebounds while ranking second on the team in assists (87) and steals (48) … Among the regulars, had the team’s best 3-point percentage at 34.6% (47-of-136) … Was impressive in the final 24 games as he averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5 from 3-point and scored 299 of his 381 points.
• NORTH DAKOTA ST: Scored 18 and was +20
• LOUISVILLE: Played a key role in holding El Ellis to 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
• UNCG: Recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds (9 defensive) … Added three steals.
• BRADLEY: Tied his career high with five steals, led the team with seven rebounds and dished out three assists.
• @ LSU: Led the Razorbacks with 16 points … Played a then career-high 39:52, including 20 minutes in the second half … Added six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• MISSOURI: Although he had five turnovers, he tied for the team lead with five assists, adding 10 points, five rebounds and a team-best three steals … Was +11 while tasked with holding leading scorer D’Moi Hodge to six points (2-of-4 FG, 2-of4 FT).
• ALABAMA: Posted his second career double-double with 16 points and career-high tying 10 rebounds … Drained a pair of 3 pointers … In addition to leading the team in points and rebounds, led the team in assists (3) and steals (2) and did not commit a turnover in 38:29 played … Guarded SEC leading scorer Brandon Miller and held him without a FG attempt in the first half and just 4 for the game.
• @ VANDY: Was 5-of-5 at the free throw line and led the team with four assists (and just two turnovers in 38:45).
• @ MISSOURI: Led the team with 18 points and tied for the team lead with nine rebounds … Sank a season-high and SEC career-best three 3’s, only his second career game to make at least three 3’s (Made a career-high 4 triples versus Oklahoma last season).
• OLE MISS: For the second-straight game, sank three 3’s (3-of-5) and scored 16 points with five rebounds … Also held Ole Miss leading scorer Matthew Murrell to just three points in 24:04 (his only basket was a fastbreak dunk … only played 5:47 on second half due to injury).
• LSU: Led team with 16 points, adding seven rebounds, and held LSU’s Adam Miller to 3-of-12 shooting (1-of-6 3PT) all while playing all 40 minutes for the first time in his career.
• @ BAYLOR: Scored 16 points, making a pair to 3-pointers, while playing a key role in Adam Flagler shooting just 1-of-11 and scoring five points.
• TEXAS A&M: Tied for the team high with a season-high 19 points … Tied his career high with 4 3’s made (4-of-8).
• @ SOUTH CAROLINA: Scored 15 points .. For the second-straight game, tied his career high with 4 3’s made (4-of-10).
• @ KENTUCKY: Kept his hot shooting alive, scoring 15 pts, but had a season-high and tied his SEC career-high with seven assists.
• MISS STATE: For the first time this year, led the team in rebounds with six, tying two others.
• @ TEXAS A&M: Led the team with 14 points, tying his career highs for 3’s made and attempted (4-of-10) … Tied for the team lead with two steals.
• @ ALABAMA: After back-to-back game with four combined points, returned to his scoring ways with 21 points, making 3-of-4 from 3PT with five rebounds … Hit a 3-pointer and made an old-fashion 3-point play to help spur a late charge.
• @ TENNESSEE: For the first time in his career, led Arkansas in points (13), rebounds (6), assists (2) and steals (3).
• vs AUBURN (SEC): Led the team with 10 rebounds (9 defensive) … With Arkansas up one, got a steal and made two free throws with 12 seconds left for a 3-point lead.
• vs TEXAS A&M (SEC): Tied for the team lead with six rebounds
• vs ILLINOIS (NCAA): Led Arkansas with four steals, adding 16 points and six rebounds.
• vs KANSAS (NCAA): Led Arkansas … TOOK OVER more accurately … with 25 points and eight rebounds … Scored 21 in the second half (7-of-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-7 FT) … Down 12, Davis scored 11 in an 18-5 run to erase the deficit … Then scored the Hog’s next five points

Sophomore (2021-22):
• Named the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.
• Played in all 37 games with 14 starts … Arkansas was 14-3 when Devo was the first sub off the bench, many of those coming as Arkansas went 18-4 to close the season and reached its second straight NCAA Elite 8
• Averaged 8.3 points and was second on the team in assists with 102.
• Was preseason 2nd team All-SEC (coaches and media).
• Mercer: Did not take a shot Mercer but led the team with a +19 as he held Mercer’s top scorer to just 4-of-13 FG / 0-of-6 3PT.
• GWU: Tied his then career-high with 6 assists as Arkansas handed out 23 for the game … Scored 10 points, making 2 3 -pointers (only made 2 treys as a frosh) … Added two steals
• Cincy: Struggled shooting, but was the only Razorback in double-digits for Plus-Minus (+10) thanks to his defensive effort … Added five rebounds and three assists … One of his boards was on the offensive end with 23 seconds left that led to two Chris Lykes free throws (21 seconds left) and a 3-point lead … Had back-to-back assists with a defensive rebound in between as Arkansas went from down four to up one with just over 5 minutes to play.
• Penn: Dished out five assists, one shy of his career high, with five rebounds and two steals.
• UCA: Played his best game in the win … Scored 16 points (6-9 FG and 4-7 FT) with six rebounds, three assists and two steals … Team-best +30 in 27:27 minutes played.
• LR: Had a then career-high seven assists (all in the first half) … Battled foul trouble in the second half, but scored 10 of his 16 in the period.
• Charlotte: May have played his best game as a Razorback … Scored season-high 18 points (two shy of career high) with a career-high eight assists and four rebounds … Also, held Charlotte’s leading scorer (entered at 19.6 ppg) to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting (0-of-5 3PT)
• Okla: Scored a career-high 26 points while making a career-high four 3-pointers (entered the game with just 6 career 3’s made)… Was a perfect 4-of-4 at the line while adding five rebounds and three assists.
• Elon: Did not attempt a shot but had a team-best six assists and was second on the team with six rebounds … Per @sports_ref, became the only Power 6 player since a least 2010-11 to have a game with 6+ assists, 6+ rebounds and no field goal attempts.
• @ Miss State: Battled foul trouble but was productive in his 26 minutes played with 15 points (7-of-12 FG), five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• @ A&M: Posted career highs in both free throws made (9) and attempted (10) … Scored 13 points, 11 in the second half as Arkansas trimmed a 17-point deficit to 1 … Added seven assists — an SEC career high — and seven rebounds, including four offensive boards.
• Mizzou: Was excellent off the bench, playing o with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals … Capped a 26-3 start by the Hogs with a dunk.
• @ LSU: Played the final minute and second half despite losing his front tooth (face hit the floor when fouled on a breakaway dunk attempt) … Had a season-high and tied his career high with eight rebounds (four offensive) … Sank a key 3-pointer during Arkansas’ 10- run late in the second half.
• Texas A&M: Only scored four points but all four came in overtime as well as his lone steal … Converted an old-fashion, 3-point play with 2:31 left to give Arkansas a lead it would not relinquish.
• West Virginia: Tied for the team lead with three assists while adding six rebounds.
• Miss State: Second on the team in Plus-Minus at +11 (Jaylin Williams led at +12) … Made a key jumper at the top of the key as the shot clock was expiring for a 4-point lead (58-54) with 1:01 left.
• Auburn: Was +15 (and the only Hog in double figures) in a four-point win over #1 Auburn … Had a career-high five steals … Scored 10 points to snap a streak of seven games in single digits … Was 2-of-3 from 3-point range, marking the first time in an SEC game he made multiple triples.
• @ Mizzou: Scored 11 points (2-of-3 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 at the line)
• Tennessee: Led the team with +14, playing 18:29 in a 10-pt win … With the game tied, Davis spurred an 11-1 run to give the Hogs a lead they would not relinquish .. Started run with a 3-pointer … Later, had another triple and an assist to cap the run … Had four rebounds (three offensive including one of his lone missed 3-pointer).
• @ Florida: Pumped in 19 points (7-of-10 FG • 2-of-3 3PT) with six rebounds and a team-best four assists with zero turnovers … Scored Arkansas’ final five points to seal the win, including a breakaway dunk with 19 seconds left to go up seven.
• Kentucky: Led the team with a +4, playing 31:23 off the bench … Was 5-of-7 at the line (3-of-3 in one trip to put the Hogs up two with 5:22 left — was 2-of-4 inside the final 13 seconds to keep it a 2-possession game … Made a key defensive rebound with five seconds left, saving the ball from going out of bounds after an Au’Diese Toney blocked shot.
• LSU: Yet again led the team in Plus-Minus (+5) in a one-point game in 30:46 played … Had four assists … Scored his lone basket with Arkansas down 7 with 6:13 left as he grabbed his own miss and flipped the ball backward over his head.
• vs Vermont (NCAA): Had 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting … “He saved us in the first half,” said Coach Muss with his 10 points (4-of-5 FG). three assists and two steals.
• vs New Mexico St (NCAA): Only had two points (2-of-2 FT) and one assist but his one assist threaded the needle on a long bounce pass to Au’Diese Tony to cap a decisive 9-0 run … His two free throws came with 41 seconds left to give the Hogs a five-point lead.
• vs Gonzaga (NCAA): Scored six points, including two free throws with eight seconds left to secure a seven-point lead and the win … Was the only Hog in double figures for Plus-Minus at +10.

Freshman (2020-21):
• Named the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
• Played in 30 games with 17 starts, including each of the last 14 … In the postseason (SEC/NCAA), averaged 12.3 points and was second on the team in rebound average (6.7) and assists (17).
• Hit the game-winning shot versus Oral Roberts with 3.1 seconds in the NCAA Sweet 16.
• Second on the team in deflections with 160 … Led the team with 10 deflections at Auburn, nine versus Missouri and nine at LSU … Added 10 vs Georgia.
• On a per 40-minute basis, averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds.
• I of 2 Razorback freshmen to ever have at least 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a game and THE ONLY Razorback rookie to do it twice doing so vs UGA (01/09/21) had 20 points • 7 rebounds • 6 assists and vs LSU (2/27/21)had 15 points • 5 rebounds • 6 assists.
• Led the team with 14 points versus Southern, adding seven rebounds in just 16:20 minutes played
• Saw playing time increase at Auburn in the SEC opener due to Justin Smith injury … Made four “game-winning” plays during a decisive 10-0 run to help secure the win: PLAY 1: With Arkansas up two, 76-74, tipped a loose rebound to Connor Vanover that led to two free throws by Moses Moody … PLAY 2: With Arkansas up four, 78-74, got the offensive rebound off Desi Sills FT miss that led to a JD Notae layup … PLAY 3: With Arkansas now up six, 80-74, made a steal in what ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes called “the best defensive play of the year” at the time … The steal led to a fastbreak and two made free throws by Connor Vanover … PLAY 4: With Arkansas now up eight, 82-74, sank a jumper from the left elbow as the shot clock was winding down to cap the 10-0 run.
• In his first career start (vs Missouri Jan. 2), had four rebounds and a career-high three steals.
• Was impressive on both ends of the floor in the win over Georgia … Scored a season-high 20 points with seven rebounds, six assists and two steals … Also did a good job guarding UGA point guard Sahvir Wheeler … Had 10 deflections and tied Moses Moody with a Plus-Minus of +33 for the game.
• Scored 10 points — all in the second half — in the win over Auburn (1/20) to help Arkansas erase a 12-point halftime deficit.
• Came off the bench vs Ole Miss to provide a huge spark at the time as he made his first four shots with two steals that led to layups… Finished with 14 points (7-of-9 shooting) and six rebounds.
• Sparked Arkansas in the first half at Oklahoma State, scoring 8 of his 13 points and getting all three of his steals.
• In his fourth start, just missed a double-double with 10 points and a season-high eight rebounds with two assists versus Mississippi State.
• Only scored four points and had just two rebounds at Kentucky, but impacted the game … Led the team with +9 thanks to three assists, zero turnovers and two steals … The last steal came on the final play to seal the win.
• At Missouri, only scored eight points, but two came on a layup with 35 seconds left in overtime … Added three assists … Sealed the win with a blocked shot with 4.7 seconds left.
• Led the team with 18 points in the win over Florida … Added five rebounds and three assists … After Florida took its only lead 62-61, Devo put the Hogs back on top with a fast break layup and he added two free throws with 28 seconds left to go up eight.
• In the LSU win, had 15 points, five rebounds and a season-high six assists … Was a bright spot in the first half with seven points and four assists.
• At South Carolina, tied for the team lead and tied his career-high with eight rebounds .. Added two assists and two steals.
• Closed the regular season with a 12-point performance in the Texas A&M win, making several key baskets … Led the team in assists (5) with six rebounds … Made two critical steals down the stretch … First, with 45 seconds left and Arkansas up one, he tipped an inbounds pass and eventually made a pass to Justin Smith for a fast break dunk … Second, up five with eight seconds left, had a steal and fast break dunk to seal the win.
• Had two solid games in the SEC Tournament as he averaged 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals with 15 deflections … Versus Missouri, had six boards, four assists and 11 points … Versus LSU, pulled down eight boards, tying a season-high, with five assists (just one turnover) and a season-high four steals, adding 10 deflections.
• Versus Colgate, started a 17-0 first half run with two steals and made a layup at the buzzer in the run for a 36-33 halftime lead .. Finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and career-high two blocked shots.
• In the Texas Tech win, had 15 points and six rebounds … Did not allow TTU leading scorer to get off a shot over the final 10 minutes.
• Scored the game-winner with 3.1 seconds left in the Sweet 16 win … Finished with 16 points and tied his career high with eight rebounds.
• Versus Baylor in the Elite 8, tied for the team lead in both points (14) and rebounds (6).

DAVONTE DAVIS INFORMATION COURTESY ARKANSAS COMMUNICATIONS

ARTICLE COMPILED FROM RADIO, TV, SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAFF REPORTS