Leading up to the men's basketball regular-season opener on Nov. 6, GoStanford.com will profile all 15 student-athletes on the team and learn more about their interests, experiences and goals.
In the 13th edition of our Cardinal Capsule series, we get to know sophomore Daejon Davis from Seattle, Washington.
How did you first get interested in basketball?
My mom surprised me with tickets to an NBA game when the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James were in town playing the Sonics. It was an experience I will always remember. From then on, I was a basketball fan and a LeBron James fan.
What is something that people may not know about you?
I am a game room tournament legend. I competed with the Rotary Boys and Girls Club, playing pool, ping pong, foosball, connect four and hockey around the county and won a bunch of times.
Nicknames?
Jon Jon, Little Jon Jon, Zoc, Day, Day Day and Swaggy D. My grandmother calls me Christopher, which is my middle name given to me by her. I am known to a lot of my family as Jon Jon, because my dad's name is Jon. His nickname growing up was Jon Jon so on that side of the family I am Little Jon Jon, but to everyone else I am just Jon Jon. My mom calls me Zoc. There isn't anything behind it, she just called me Zoc one day and it stuck. She only calls me Zoc. She hasn't looked at me and called me Daejon in a long time, it's Zoc.
Why did you choose Stanford?
My mom always taught me to be myself and be different. The easy option would have been to stay home. A lot of people have chosen to do that. I wanted to be different though. In middle school, my mom wanted me to go to a private school in Seattle. I had already made a decision to separate myself from my peers when I moved out of my neighborhood to the northern area of Seattle for school and I met a lot of new people. When choosing a college, I made a decision to move somewhere else and be a part of something special. My mom always tells me how important school is. She instilled that in me, along with my boys and girls club, at a young age. I took that seriously to get to this point. I realized the opportunities Stanford offers and the benefits of a Stanford education. It was an easy decision from there.
While you won't declare a major until your junior year, do you have an area of study in mind?
I have narrowed it down to five right now, communication, sociology, American studies, urban studies and history.
During the team's recent visit to the Pac-12 Conference offices and the Pac-12 Networks studios, you showed an interest in broadcasting. What did you learn on the visit?
I have always been outgoing and not afraid to talk to people. My mom watches broadcasters on television and says that is who I am. She says I can do this. When we visited the Pac-12 offices and Pac-12 Networks, I really got a good understanding of all that goes into a broadcast. We all take for granted what these broadcasters do. There is a lot of hard work and preparation off camera that goes into what you see on camera.
What did you learn last year outside of basketball that has helped you prepare for this year?
Last year, Coach Haase told me something that I keep with me at all times, "you are judged on your bad days and how you respond." If I don't get the grade I wanted on a test, I know the next test or the next paper that I submit must be better. There are going to be unfortunate things that happen in my life and everyone's life. Staying focused and moving forward without letting anything keep me down is important.
Reflecting on your freshman year on the court, what did you take from last season as you prepare for your sophomore season?
It was a lot of fun. We had a special group of guys. I made a lot of mistakes and lacked focus at times. My role this year is to be a floor general, making sure my guys are ready to go. I took the back seat to our captains and seniors last year. I want to be more vocal this season. I know my voice matters and I want to positively affect my team however I can.
It was a wild scene at Maples after your 50-foot buzzer-beater to defeat USC last year. Can you share some of the reaction from friends and family who reached out after the game?
I didn't look at my phone right away; I was celebrating the win with everyone. When I sat down and tried to go on my phone, it was moving slow and froze at points. I kept getting notification after notification with people from home calling and texting. It was awesome to hear from so many people. I was finally able to talk to my mom. My phone kept buzzing the rest of the night and I ended up just putting it away at some point. I talked to my mom, that's all I really needed.
Any significance behind the No. 1 jersey?
My mentor throughout high school, Mitch Johnson, was No. 1 when he played here at Stanford. When I started playing, I chose No. 15 for Carmelo Anthony then chose No. 18 for my mom's birthday and later No. 23 for LeBron James. I also had No. 2 and No. 3 during my high school days. No. 1 for Mitch Johnson felt right when I got here. I am also one step away from my ultimate goal.