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Johnny Davis brings two-way talent to Wizards roster

It was no secret that the Washington Wizards had the point guard position on their mind heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. That’s why they used their No. 10 overall pick on Johnny Davis, a 6’5 guard out of Wisconsin.

“My insides just lit up. I was very excited for that moment,” Johnny Davis said about his selection. “I’ve been waiting for a long time. More importantly, I’m just happy that my parents and family are here to celebrate it with me.”

One of the most talented two-way guards in the class, Davis brings much needed depth to the Wizards roster and has the capability of making an immediate impact. If Bradley Beal signs a new contract, it will be imperative for the Wizards to show quick improvement to become a playoff contender.

“Johnny proved his scoring capability and showed the ability and willingness to defend at a very high level at Wisconsin,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “His versatility, toughness and extraordinary basketball IQ stood out during our evaluation process and we’re excited to have him join our team.”

“You can tell he has a passion and very competitive spirit about him,” Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “I think he just loves the game, loves to play and you see that out on the floor. The way he guards, obviously he can score at all three levels, but he embraces that side of the ball.”

Johnny Davis (6-5, 196) earned the Big Ten Player of the Year accolade after averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31 games as a sophomore with the Badgers in 2021-22. 

Davis scored in double figures in all but one game, topping 20 points in 16 games, as he improved his scoring average by 12.7 points per game in his sophomore season.  He also averaged 24.1 points in eight games against top-25 opponents.

In addition to his Big Ten Player of the Year honor, Davis also earned the 2022 Lute Olson National Player of the Year, Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year, was a consensus First-Team All-American and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award.

He was also selected as the Big Ten Player of the Week three times and was the Naismith National Player of the Week for the week on January 10. The La Crosse, Wisconsin, native also won a Gold Medal with USA Basketball at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia.

Davis will make his in-person debut today at Wizards minicamp.