TOWSON, Md. – John Davis never has to look far for motivation even after becoming the 25th Towson University men's basketball player to join the distinguished 1,000-point club last Saturday against Northeastern.
 
All he does is glances down at his uniform number. It provides him a daily reminder of the moment he learned that his dad, John Sr. was killed. Davis was seven years old. That moment is with Davis every day.
 
It has enhanced his purpose on the basketball court and supplied the fuel Davis has needed to enjoy a memorable career at Towson.
 
"A lot of people don't even know this but I wear the No. 10 because of my dad," Davis said Monday afternoon prior to practice. "His birthday is August 10 and my birthday is October 10.  My dad is my motivation for me. He played high school basketball but couldn't finish. He had to start working because he had a family. My motivation was to always get through high school first and then get through college second.
 
"My goal has been to always make him proud with being able to do something that he didn't have the chance to do. Not that he wasn't able to do it. He just didn't have the chance to do it."
 
Davis' father is smiling down upon his son.
 
As Towson prepares to visit Hofstra for a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game Thursday night, Davis has 1,009 career points and 637 rebounds, making him one of only seven Towson players in program history part of the 1,000-point/600-rebound club.
 

When:	Thursday, January 19, 2017
Where	David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.  -- Hempstead, N.Y.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (10-9, 2-4); Hofstra (9-10, 1-5)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
Series History:	Hofstra leads 39-24
Last Meeting:	Hofstra won 84-82 on Feb. 18, 2016 at the Mack Sports Complex
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB
Leading Scorers:	Towson: Mike Morsell (13.9 ppg.) Hofstra: Justin Wright-Foreman (13.5 ppg,)

 
While being part of that fabulous fraternity is nice, Davis will join an exclusive club when he receives his degree in communication studies in May. It's an accomplishment that will fill him with the most pride.
 
"That's going to be one of the most special moments of my life," Davis said. "I am going to be the first player in my family to actually graduate from college. That's going to be big especially to have my family out there to watch me walk across the stage and get my degree. That's going to be special. My sister started college and she didn't graduate. To have my family there it's going to special for me."
 
Davis, who is from Philadelphia, is a throwback to another generation of basketball players. He was mentored by former La Salle University and Philadelphia high school legend Lionel Simmons, who also played seven seasons for the Sacramento Kings. They attended the same middle school. Simmons was close with Davis' father. Simmons believed in a young Davis and consistently encouraged him.
 
A hard worker, Davis is selfless and doesn't care about personal statistics. It's a trait that was instilled in him by his mom, Kimberly Williams. While the 1,000-point milestone is nice and something for Davis to enjoy a few years from now, scoring has never been his focus.
 
"I've always been a team player," Davis said. "Everything that's individual and personal is always a plus. I don't care if I score five or 30 points. I am always good and as long as we get a win at the end of the day that's the only thing I care about. Scoring 1,000 points means a lot and I couldn't do it without my teammates. It means a lot but want to keep moving forward."
 
Even though he doesn't like the spotlight, it's been hard to overlook what Davis has done during his splendid career in which he has scored in double figures 50 times and recorded 20 double-doubles.
 
Davis enjoys his role of coming off the bench for Towson; one he did as a sophomore in which he earned All-CAA Third Team honors after averaging 11.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest. He recorded a CAA-best 12 double-doubles and was the only player in Division I to record 10-or-more double-doubles while starting less than 10 games.
 
He started 29 of Towson's 33 games last season where he was one of four Towson players who averaged double figures (10.3 points per game).
 
He is back in his familiar role where he's happy, healthy and home flourishing as a sixth-man supreme. This season, Davis has recorded five double-doubles, scored in double figures 13 times, and led the Tigers in scoring four times. As one of the co-captains, Davis' impact goes beyond the 11.4 points and team best 6.8 rebounds he averages this season.
 
"(Towson head coach Pat) Skerry and I came to a mutual decision to bring me off the bench," Davis said. "I like this role a lot more because I get to see what's going on in the game and how I can get in and help the team. It's really about the team to be honest. We might need some rebounding, some scoring or defense. Not starting helps me to get a feel of the game and see it how's its swinging. That way I can try to put forth my energy to help us get a win."
 
Davis has enjoyed a special career at Towson despite enduring the obstacles of suffering from mononucleosis as a freshman, which forced him to miss 12 games. Last season as a junior Davis got off to a slow start because of an achy foot that impacted his playing time. Yet, through all the discomfort, Davis has battled, worked hard and never complained.
 
"I come from the bottom and that's all I know is getting through things and hard times," Davis said. "I was always taught not to complain and keep working your way through every situation no matter how tough it is. I always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My mom instilled in me that tough times don't last, but tough people do. Just knowing there's something better ahead of me. That keeps me going."
 
Davis is also focused on the future.
 
Despite a tough start to the conference schedule in which the Tigers lost their first four games, the ultimate prize of winning the CAA postseason tournament and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament is still attainable. For Davis, those possibilities inspire him on the court to compete at a consistently high level.
 
Off the hardwood, his eight-month old son Bryson provides the drive and determination he needs to achieve great things. Davis wants to play professionally once he earns his degree. He admitted that becoming a father has changed and helped him become a stronger leader for the Tigers. When Towson returned to campus following a difficult 0-3 road trip, Davis led a players-only meeting.
 
"Having a son helped open my eyes up a lot," Davis said. "Every decision I make, I worry how it's going to affect me and my son. I never had to worry about that before. Having my son keeps me on toes. My dad always worked hard for our family. Now that I am put in that position of being a father figure to my family, that's all that matters to me."
 
"We're definitely looking forward to achieving all of our goals we set during preseason. We have to make happen and hold up our part of the deal."