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Texas A&M Basketball

A&M center Tyler Davis to forego senior year, pursue NBA dream

May 20, 2018
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Tyler Davis, who helped Texas A&M reach the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament twice in three seasons, told ESPN’s The Undefeated he will forego his final year of eligibility.

Davis has apparently hired an agent. He isn’t expected to be taken in the upcoming NBA draft but will still pursue a professional career.

“I loved my time at Texas A&M,” Davis told The Undefeated. “I love coach (Billy) Kennedy, my coaches and my teammates. I will always  be thankful I was a part of their program. I just want to start my career as a pro and have decided to stay in the 2018 NBA Draft with the goal of being in the NBA next season.”

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Davis was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Freshman team in 2016, was All-SEC second team in 2017 and was named first team All-SEC in 2018.

This season he averaged 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds in leading the Aggies to a 22-13 campaign that concluded in the Sweet Sixteen.

As a sophomore he averaged 14.1 points and 7.0 rebounds, and during his freshman year he averaged 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. He also scored a buzzer-beating put-back in a victory over Kentucky which enabled the Aggies to win a share of the SEC championship.

The loss of Davis will significantly alter A&M's preseason outlook for next season. The Aggies figure to build around the backcourt of senior guard Admon Gilder and sophomore point guard T.J. Starks.

There will be questions inside, though. Josh Nebo, a 6-9 transfer from St. Francis, will likely replace Davis in the starting lineup.

Discussion from...

A&M center Tyler Davis to forego senior year, pursue NBA dream

19,698 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by wacarnolds
Ags #1
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10:33p, 5/20/18
AG
Guess he actually wants to be coached up. If he isn't getting drafted why go pro other than to get better coaching.
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wacarnolds
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In reply to Ags #1 • 10:48p, 5/20/18
AG
Ags #1 said:
Guess he actually wants to be coached up. If he isn't getting drafted why go pro other than to get better coaching.
Maybe he wants to start making money for himself and his family.
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Ags #1
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10:54p, 5/20/18
AG
If he goes g league he gets what 50k a year? I assume he would go over seas if it's all about the
Money
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Uncle Jimbo
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11:27p, 5/20/18
Good for Tyler! We'll be cheering for him.

As for us, it's probably for the best long term. We need a season where there's not enough talent to mask our coaching **** show.
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Electric
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8:35a, 5/21/18
AG
Good luck Tyler!I am officially out until Kennedy is gone
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johnnyblaze36
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In reply to wacarnolds • 9:39a, 5/21/18
AG
wacarnolds said:
Ags #1 said:
Guess he actually wants to be coached up. If he isn't getting drafted why go pro other than to get better coaching.
Maybe he wants to start making money for himself and his family.
Nope. It's definitely the former. I just don't understand why no team will not take him in the second round. Seems like the ultimate great locker room role player.
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whitebread_1
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10:36a, 5/21/18
AG
Love the guy and great college player. Just not sure where he fits in today's NBA. There aren't of guys like him in the league anymore. Most are supremely athletic bigs or guys who can stretch the defense to the 3 point line. I wish the best for him in his pursuit and will be fun to see how his story turns out.
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Lilly Biucci
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11:12a, 5/21/18
AG
I think this will finally spell the end for Kennedy. Next year is going to be rough without Davis, and BK has run out of second chances.
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_lefraud_
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In reply to Lilly Biucci • 12:40p, 5/21/18
AG
Has he though?
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txag72
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1:02p, 5/21/18
AG
Quote:
I think this will finally spell the end for Kennedy. Next year is going to be rough without Davis, and BK has run out of second chances.
And what if it doesn't, we make the NCAA's? That will change your mind? Of course not. Never ending negativity. Besides, I'd rather have players playing their hearts out instead of burnt out juniors (Hogg) or seniors (Tyler if he stayed apparently).
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Method Man
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2:15p, 5/21/18
He hasn't made the NCAA 2 years in a row with good. talent. If he misses he should be done, but he won't. Ags will make another excuse for him and hey he just made the sweet 16!
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expresswrittenconsent
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4:39p, 5/21/18
Look, 72 trashing "burnout" Tyler Davis in defense of poor Billy Kennedy's internet reputation. What a great ag!
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AggieTFA06
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8:43p, 5/21/18
AG
Billy Kennedy's built in excuse for next season is now ready
To 1,000,000 touchdowns ...and beyond
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MidTnAg
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6:08a, 6/19/18
AG
I think Tyler's best course of action by far would have been to return to A&M for one more year and get his degree. That would have earned him far more money in the long run.
Poor decision.
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GE
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In reply to MidTnAg • 8:08a, 6/19/18
AG
MidTnAg said:
I think Tyler's best course of action by far would have been to return to A&M for one more year and get his degree. That would have earned him far more money in the long run.
Poor decision.
Depends on how you look at it.

1. Has he developed physically and skill-wise enough that he is close to his ceiling already? I would say yes unless he's going to develop an outside game, and he has more time to devote to developing that game playing professional ball.

2. Would he have been drafted into the NBA following his senior season? Probably not.

3. How much money would he be turning down in Europe to stay in school one more year? Six figures, easily.

4. Is he likely to earn as much using his University Studies Leadership degree as he is playing basketball in Europe? No way.

I personally wish he would have stayed and at one point absolutely thought he should have stayed, but that was before I knew how much those damn Europeans pay good basketball players.
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MMantle
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10:57a, 6/19/18
AG
He can always come back and get his degree, he's a smart young man.

RR
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Isaih Smollett
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11:01a, 6/19/18
exactly
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expresswrittenconsent
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In reply to MidTnAg • 11:05a, 6/19/18
MidTnAg said:
I think Tyler's best course of action by far would have been to return to A&M for one more year and get his degree. That would have earned him far more money in the long run.
Poor decision.

Based on what? He can go to Europe and play for 6 figures per year for the next several years, which is more money than he would make spending 1 more year in school earning zero dollars and then joining the regular workforce making 50-60k. He can also finish his degree while playing professionally. His game isn't going to improve enough with one more year here to turn him from a guy who seems likely undrafted in 2018 to a lotto pick in 2019.
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_lefraud_
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12:08p, 6/19/18
AG
He will clear 1,000,000 in earnings in 10 years or less. I'm guessing it takes the average person with an undergrad to 20 years to earn 1,000,000.

There was just no reason for him to come back to school, unless he wanted to get in the discussion of being a top 5 or so player in program history, which honestly, he's already a top 10-15 player...
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Aggie1205
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7:31a, 6/22/18
AG
We will see if he gets a FA opportunity for the summer league.
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Hop
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In reply to expresswrittenconsent • 9:01a, 6/22/18
Staff
AG
expresswrittenconsent said:
MidTnAg said:
I think Tyler's best course of action by far would have been to return to A&M for one more year and get his degree. That would have earned him far more money in the long run.
Poor decision.

Based on what? He can go to Europe and play for 6 figures per year for the next several years, which is more money than he would make spending 1 more year in school earning zero dollars and then joining the regular workforce making 50-60k. He can also finish his degree while playing professionally. His game isn't going to improve enough with one more year here to turn him from a guy who seems likely undrafted in 2018 to a lotto pick in 2019.
Well, going to school one more year doesn't end his basketball career. Theoretically, the loss is a one year loss of income and not a career's worth of losses.

Davis was in a unique position where coming back to school was possibly a better long term deal if he so chose. Had he come back and established himself as the best A&M post player of all-time statistically, his employment opportunities at A&M shoot up. Somebody has to get the Barry Davis corner office when he retires. That's six-figures for 30 years after basketball retirement. It's pretty sweet gig for the person who has the A&M hoops career resume' and wants to do it. But clearly, it's not something you'd expect somebody in his position and age to think about...but the role of goat at a school can be lucrative. Every school has one on the payroll.
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wacarnolds
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In reply to Aggie1205 • 9:05a, 6/22/18
AG
Aggie1205 said:
We will see if he gets a FA opportunity for the summer league.
Tyler has agreed to play with the Nets Summer League team. 3 games, starting July 6. Brooklyn drafted Jarrett Allen from Texas last year, and he played quite a bit at C for them this year, with Tyler Zeller backing him up. So while Tyler has a tough road ahead of him, he may have found a team that could use help with depth in the front court.
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