Hornets' Davis signs with Panthers
May 4—The best way Aiken High girls' basketball coach could describe what it's like to have Quantashia Davis on the roster was by describing what it will be like to not have her on it:
Scary.
That's how much of an impact Davis has had for the Hornets, and Wednesday she was celebrated in a signing ceremony as she takes the next step to Denmark Technical College.
"She was definitely a leader in terms of helping players," Pompey said. "The younger players, if they struggle she'd be right there for them. A lot of times, she'd even go to them before I could. She was a leader of young ladies, and that was probably the most impressive thing for me.
"Of course, outside of her play on the court. She probably influenced the game as well as anybody, in terms of the outcome, with the way she played. Sometimes the numbers might not have been there, but defensively, rebounding, offense — whatever we needed, she'd always find a way to do it. It's nice to have."
Davis averaged 9.6 points, eight rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.1 blocks this past season as Aiken High won 20 games, finished second in Region 5-AAAA and reached the Lower State semifinals. She was selected to the Carolinas Classic all-star games, and now she'll look to improve her level of play at Denmark Tech.
"I just kept hearing about it. I kept hearing people talk about it, and my coach kept telling me about it," said Davis, who wants to study nursing. "I was, like, maybe I should check it out. When I went down there, (Denmark Tech coach Johnathan Shell) was outgoing and telling me about himself and telling me everything. I just think he's a good coach. He'll just let me fit in and make me feel comfortable."
Denmark Tech is a Division I member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, and Shell said that his teams play a loaded schedule against several of the nation's top-ranked teams.
"Oh, I love competition," Davis said. "I like playing girls that play just like me, tough. It makes me go harder."
Pompey described her as a selfless player, recalling her reaction when he told her she was chosen for the Carolinas Classic — he said she stepped back and looked at her teammates as if to ask, "Why me?"
She said her favorite accomplishment from her time at Aiken High wasn't a personal one, but rather the way she and her teammates came together in her senior season and truly played together as a team. That's one of a few qualities Pompey said will suit her well as she transitions to the next level.
"One, especially where basketball is concerned, she's so versatile," he said. "She can adapt to whatever the situation is. It's not like she's going to a team where this is a fit for this type of person, this type of player. Wherever he wants to put her, she'll be able to help.
"Of course, personality-wise, being a team player. ... For her, because of the way she plays, she'll be able to kind of grow and fall into wherever they need, and I think that will also help pull the other girls together. That's one of the reasons I'm really going to miss her, because I know how she really impacts the team overall."
