LONDON — North Laurel High School’s Reece Davidson made it official Thursday, official committing to Liberty University on his X account.
North Laurel coach Nate Valentine he is excited to see Davidson take the next step to further his basketball career.
“We are elated for Reece and his family,” he said. “Reece has been a tremendous player for us but I cant say enough about the type of kid he is. He’s a fierce competitor, a great teammate, has extremely high character and does it all with humility. He’s embodies everything a coach would want.”
Davidson said he loves the tradition at Liberty.
“Very good on the basketball side of course but what I like most is what they do off the court,” he said. “The kind of men Coach McKay turns his players into is really special. I love that they value that just as much as basketball. It feels like home and the coaching staff made me feel very wanted and valued which is what I wanted in a school as well.”
Davidson burst onto the scene this past season after turning in a stellar junior campaign, exploding with one of the best postseasons by any Laurel County basketball player in recent memory. He led North Laurel to its first Sweet 16 win, and an appearance in the Elite Eight.
Against Montgomery County, Davidson scored 41 points while also recording 10 rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and one assist.
His 41-point effort ranks fifth all-time for a player from the 13th Region, according to the KHSAA Record Book, trailing only Richie Farmer of Clay County (51), Trent Noah of Harlan County (48), Russ Chadwell of Clay County (43), and Bo Roaden of Corbin (42).
“An unbelievable performance,” Valentine said. “A star was born this week in Reece Davidson. Scoring 41 points, scoring 36 — average players don’t do that, he’s elite, and we’ve kept it about the team all year. Reece is an elite player. His trend line, he might not be the best player in the state right now, but his trend line, he’s going to surpass that, if he hasn’t, very quickly. That’s an unbelievable performance by him.”
Throughout the tournament, Davidson tallied a total of 77 points and 19 rebounds, averaging 38.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and three blocks per game.
“Normal guys don’t get 41 and 36 in the state tournament,” Valentine said. “The way he shot the ball, the way he played the point, and with his size and ability to pass the ball — he played outstanding with three to four guys on him. He absolutely carried us.”
