Davis breaks down reasons for choice

Jamin Davis was this week's surprise commitment, following Austin Dotson's surprise weekend commitment.

He answered questions for Cats Illustrated and conveyed the reasons for his decision.

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While Davis' commitment to Kentucky seems like a surprise at least based on the information that had been made available about him and his relationship to UK in the media, it's not that simple. Much of the groundwork for the long recruitments that culminate in commitments happens behind the scenes, and if it looks like something happens out of the blue oftentimes it's just a sign that we didn't know as much as we thought we did.

Davis told Cats Illustrated that his decision to attend UK was actually the result of a process much longer than simply a quick visit followed by an offer and his choice. He wove together sequences of events in his life and, looking at the big picture, believed it was meant to be.

"I chose them because everything has been telling me that it was the school for me ever since I received my first letter from them last year during my sophomore year," Davis said.

Letters don't always lead to much, and often don't mean much except that a player made the mailing list. In Davis' case, however, it's something that he didn't forget.

"I just never thought that they would someday offer me," he said.

It's clear that Davis was on cloud nine after Kentucky coach and recruiter Andy Buh offered him. So when he visited and took in the sights, sounds and speeches common to junior days, he took it in as a player very serious about the possibility of choosing Kentucky.

"When I went to their junior day all it did was officially put them to the top of my list because I really enjoyed everything from the coaching staff to the fans at the basketball game," he said.

Rivals.com's profile for Davis lists him as an inside linebacker while Davis' Hudl.com page has him noted as an outside linebacker. It's not that one is more right than the other. The contradiction actually expresses something in reality - uncertainty, even among Kentucky's coaches.

"I think both (positions are possible)," Davis said, indicating his own uncertainty. "(Buh) was describing how versatile I was and how my fear of contact is very low. And the coaches said they were impressed with my grades also."

Meeting with Buh was a part of the trip that helped seal the deal for Davis. He surely had good feelings about his recruiter before the trip, given his role in helping him move up the Cats' board and ultimately secure his first major conference offer, and the in-person time for talks and even relaxation put more of a human face on his future position coach.

"I really enjoyed my time with Coach Buh," Davis said. "He really made me feel like I would be right in the family."

Davis said he has not been able to meet any of the players currently on the team nor is he familiar with any of his fellow commitments.