HORNETS’ DAVIS RAISES EYEBROWS

Anthony Davis is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft. His resume reads like a laundry list that is normally reserved for legends: SEC player of the year, Naismith Award and Wooden Award winner, AP player of the year, AP first-team All-American, and the most outstanding player in the Final Four after leading Kentucky to a national title.

So what’s next for Davis? How about NBA superstar.

That may be quite a lofty status for a guy who only burst onto the scene two years ago after a 7-inch growth spurt catapulted him from an unknown shooting guard in high school to being named the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. But Davis is a special talent. He has the skill set comparable to Kevin Garnett and a demeanor similar to Tim Duncan. If Davis comes close to accomplishing what KG and TD did in their NBA careers, he’ll do just fine.

“He understands how to play basketball. He is always in position defensively,” former college coach and current ESPNU analyst Dan Dakich said about Davis, who rejected 186 shots as a freshman and averaged five blocked shots per game.

“There’s a confidence there that only comes out when it’s game time,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said. “His job is continue to improve, win games, and increase his earning power. But at the same time I want him to have fun.”

Davis has an unlimited ceiling. He is listed at 6 feet 9 inches tall but has a eye-popping 7-6 wingspan. At 222 pounds, he may need to add a few more pounds to absorb all the banging in the paint, but his athleticism is off the charts and has guard-like skills.

And as far as that ridiculous unibrow, well, let’s just say it is not going away anytime soon.

“When I first got to Kentucky guys were saying ‘Get rid of it.’ But me being me loving who I am and being thankful the way God created me, I just said ‘No.’ I really can’t cut it because it has gone global so I really have to keep it now.”

Now that Davis’ famous unibrow is here to stay, one nickname seems appropriate: The Unablocker.

Davis’ basketball acumen will be tested immediately at the NBA level. The New Orleans Hornets are already calling him “the savior,” which is a ton of pressure placed on guy who is just two years removed from high school. New Orleans is starving for a superstar after its favorite son, Chris Paul, turned his back on the city and approved a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

New Hornets owner Tom Benson needs a headliner to fill seats and Davis is going to be the face of the franchise for years to come. “Boy, he is just a delight. I get a good feeling from him,” said Benson, who also owns the New Orleans Saints.

“New Orleans is a great city. I know [the team] really works hard. Their main goal is play hard and play defense,” Davis said. “When I come here I just try to contribute as much as I can and do what Coach [Monty] Williams want me to do.”

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.