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If you listen to the phrases and the catchwords, you could close your eyes, think back six years and picture Derrick Favors.
That's how talented Michigan State's Deyonta Davis is. That's how quiet and reserved he was off the floor during Thursday's pre-draft workout with the Utah Jazz. That's the ceiling on his athleticism.
Like Favors, Davis is leaving college after a year. Like Favors, Davis has an expanded skillset that he wasn't able to show collegiately. Like Favors, Davis possesses a plethora of natural talent, makes the game look relatively easy and needs to figure out how to play hard 100 percent of the time.
Would Davis be the selection if the draft were today? Possibly. The Jazz like what he brings, and they like his fit. But with a week remaining, it's still too early for Utah to set its focus on one player.
"I thought I shot the ball well today," Davis said. "They wanted me to show my shooting, how I shoot the ball, my floaters. If being at Michigan State taught me anything, it's to treat every day like it's my last."
The Jazz were Davis' second workout in the last two days, following the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Davis struggled with the Nuggets because of the altitude, but was more acclimated with the Jazz.
As a result, Davis was able to show off expanded skill. He played exclusively in the post with Michigan State, and took just four shots outside of the paint in his freshman season. With the Jazz, he showed a smooth jumper from as far out as 18 feet.
"For a solo workout, he did well," Jazz VP of Player Personnel Walt Perrin said. "He showed stuff we didn't see at Michigan State. He has a pretty good shooting touch from 18 feet on in. He has the ability to eventually get out to 3-point range."
The Jazz have long been intrigued with Davis' ability to block shots, his athleticism around the rim and his ability to defend. So the shooting was a pleasant surprise. Davis having the Michigan State stamp on him — players coached by Tom Izzo have typically done well at the NBA level — has helped Davis' overall stock, also.
So how would he fit in, if the Jazz were to draft him? He'd be a good candidate to slide into the role of the fourth big man, if Trevor Booker were to leave the team during free agency, which begins in a couple of weeks.
If Booker — important to Quin Snyder's rotation because of his energy and hustle — were to stay with the Jazz, Davis would likely find the path to playing time a lot more difficult. Davis also sees himself as a stretch power forward, and the Jazz already have one of those in Trey Lyles. So Davis would likely have to play a lot at center if he were to be drafted by Utah.
Either way, the Jazz like Davis' talent and upside. If he's on the board when the No. 12 pick comes around, it looks as if he would certainly be a draft candidate.
"We have a week until we have to make the decision," Perrin said. "But we liked his shooting. We have to get upstairs and watch more film."
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