Abbeville native Davenport ready to help Ragin’ Cajuns in NCAA tourney

J.J. Davenport is many things.
As a member of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns basketball team, Davenport, an Abbeville native, is excited about the opportunity today presents. Davenport and the Cajuns will take the floor at 2:10 p.m. this afternoon in San Antonio as a 14 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Cajuns (23-11) will take on No. 3 seed Creighton University.
“It’s the best feeling you could want,” Davenport said. “It’s the biggest tournament in basketball. I have played basketball for a long time and I never dreamed I would be a part of this.
“It happened. By God’s grace, it happened.”
That grace has helped put Davenport in some successful spots during his basketball career. As a senior in 2011, Davenport helped lead the Abbeville Wildcats to the Class 3A title game and their second straight Top 28 appearance. After leaving Abbeville, Davenport played for New Mexico Junior College, where he helped the school to a 27-6 record and reach the championship game of its region. Davenport added to all of that last Sunday by helping the Cajuns to a Sun Belt Conference Championship. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound junior center scored seven points and pulled down six rebounds in an 82-81 win over Georgia State.
“That meant a lot,” Davenport said with a big smile. “That meant so much just to know I can help my team win a championship.
“I can’t describe the feeling.”
UL head coach Bob Marlin can describe Davenport, among the many things he is, by using one key word.
“J.J. is a winner,” Marlin said. “He has won everywhere he has been. He was a winner at Abbeville High. He was a winner at New Mexico Junior College. Now he is winning with us.”
Marlin said Davenport is indeed a big reason for the Cajuns’ success this season. Davenport averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 34 games, seven of which he started.
“I think he is a great team player,” Marlin said. “At one of the press conferences after he started, someone asked him if he would prefer to start or come off the bench. J.J. said he would prefer to win. He’s genuine about it.
“He’s a good young man.”
One that will do whatever it takes to help his team.
“I feel like I bring an energy to the team,” Davenport said of a role he embraces. “I want to bring a tough energy out there. If there is a big man out there dominating, I want to get in and let him feel my presence. If I have to get a quick foul, I just want to let them know I am there bringing energy.”
Davenport is not shy to call himself a “role” player.
“I like it,” Davenport said. “Again, I will do whatever it takes to help my team win.”
That started before Davenport ever took the floor for the Cajuns. Davenport, among the many things he is, is a young man who is not afraid to put in work. When challenged by his coaches to drop 30 pounds before the season, Davenport did just that.
“He came in and put in extra time,” Marlin said of Davenport. “He came in the mornings to work out and worked with our strength coach in the afternoon. He put forth the time and took it very serious.
“He did a good job maintaining his weight throughout the season.”
That comes thanks to a strong focus, one that remains so, for both Davenport and the team, going into today’s game. That will need to be the case as Cajuns face Creighton (26-7), the runner-up in the Big East Conference. The Bluejays as a team connected on 342 three-point shots, 123 more than their opponents.
“You have to respect their shooters,” Davenport said. “You have no choice but to respect their shooters. We have some good, tough shooters on our team, too.”
Creighton is led by Doug McDermott, one of the most prolific players in NCAA history. The senior forward ranks fifth in Division I scoring list, with 3,105 points. He comes into this game averaging nearly 27 points a game.
“You can’t look at him as just another player,” Davenport said of the National Player of the Year candidate. “He can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.”
Davenport will be representing Abbeville when he steps on that same court today. For all the things he is, Davenport is extremely proud of that fact.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “I grew up in Live Oak Manor and I try to be an example for kids there. I embrace that. Last year we did a basketball tournament to help kids and that’s a yearly thing we are going to do.
“I want to let the kids know there are chances. You just have to stay positive.”