He is not that tall, 203 centimeters, nor is he conspicuously muscular. But Steven Davis, 28 to turn in September, jumps so high that a 2016 dunk from his university days is still running around on YouTube after it ended up on Espn, the most famous national sports channel. At the time it was selected among the ten best plays of the week.
Corresponds to his face, until recently framed by a cascade of braids, the identikit of the first American of the new Biella Basketball. He will complete the long section (even if he can play as number 3) together with confirmed Luca Vincini, the new Simone Barbante and the returning Luca Infante, whose signature announced on the contract that will bind him to the rossoblù for a season arrived yesterday.
With the latest arrivals, between official and unofficial, the team’s backbone is well under way. GM Damiano Olla went in search of the second American in the role of play-guard and an Italian (not necessarily under) to alternate with Matteo Pollone as a small forward, a change of plan caused by the departure of Nicola Berdini.
Excited the message of the play via social media, a few hours after the termination of the contract: «Biella, a dot on the map, an indelible milestone in my history. Goodbye to whoever will be in my young heart forever ». Many will miss him, and not just for the talent on the court. A demonstration? Among those who greeted him on Instagram there is also his literature professor from the scientific high school, which he attended with high averages.
Gianmarco Bertetti should return to the small sector (again officially expected shortly), to alternate in the role of director and guard with the still faceless American and with the two loans from Reggio Emilia Soviero and Porfilio. His should be the last confirmation (help from the youth teams excluded) compared to last season’s squad.
Steven Davis, on the other hand, is a new face for the Italian championship. He has been in Europe for 4 seasons, the last two spent in Sweden at Lulea where he arrived in March 2020 just before the championship stopped due to the coronavirus. After graduating from Wright State University, he made his professional debut in Hungary at Kormend and then moved to Slovakia at Levice. Last season he finished with 13 points and 4.6 rebounds. He has two children, which he proudly displays on his Twitter profile image where he has put pen to paper the manifesto of his career: “I work to guarantee my family a better life”. It has something in common with a great in the history of Biella Basketball: Lulea is the team where the then GM Daniele Baiesi found a still very young Jonas Jerebko.