OSAM: When did you start playing basketball?

Davenport: I started playing in the seventh grade in middle school. That was the first year you could play in middle school and I started playing for Johnson Park Middle School.

OSAM: Why did you start playing?

JD: Basically the coaches wanted me to start playing because I was tall. They needed a tall player, and I was pretty tall.

OSAM: Have you always been the tallest person in your class?

JD: As far as girls, I have been. A couple of boys were my height or taller; but pretty much yeah, I’ve always been the tallest.

OSAM: What was it like playing in the Columbus Public League against tough schools like Brookhaven and Mifflin?

JD: It was good because that was some great competition. A lot of good players came out of those schools, people who are playing D-I basketball now. Playing against players like that was a good way to develop my skills.

OSAM: What made you decide to attend Ohio State?

JD: I think the coaching staff and the location. Coach (Jim) Foster got here and I loved him and I loved the coaching staff. Plus I live about 15 minutes away from campus, so that was a good thing, too. Ohio State met what I was looking for in a school.

OSAM: What was it that you liked about coach Foster?

JD: I think it’s just his style of coaching and how he separates personal life and basketball. You know, on the court he’s intense, but afterwards you can talk to him about anything.

OSAM: You had a tough loss earlier this year to Purdue. How has the team bounced back from that loss?

JD: I think we’ll be OK. We watched the film and saw all the little things we did wrong. We’ll get those things corrected, improve, and go from there.

OSAM: How good can this team be?

JD: I think the sky’s the limit as long as we go out there and play hard, play our game, and do the detailed things we need to do.

OSAM: Who is your favorite basketball player?

JD: I have two, I like Shaq [O’Neal] and Tim Duncan. Shaq brings a lot of energy and Tim Duncan is a really fundamentally sound player. I enjoy watching both of them play. I also like [Woman’s National Basketball Association player] Lisa Leslie. She’s probably my favorite woman’s player.

OSAM: Who has been most influential in your basketball career?

JD: My family. They’re supportive. Even if I wanted to quit now, they’d still support me whatever I do.

OSAM: What do you want to do in the future?

JD: Hopefully, play professionally. I also would like to open a clothing store one day for hard-to-find sizes.

OSAM: You’ve also excelled in the classroom at Ohio State. How do you balance school and athletics?

JD: Time management is most important. There are a lot of things that you have to do, but if you manage your time successfully you’ll be able to study, get your basketball in, and be successful in both.

-JAY HANSEN