| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1943 Rutledge, Tennessee |
| Died | September 23, 2014 (aged 71) Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Rutledge (Rutledge, Tennessee) |
| College | Tennessee (1962–1965) |
| NBA draft | 1965: 5th round, 43rd overall pick |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 20 |
| Coaching career | 1966–1977 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1966–1969 | McMinn Central HS |
| 1969–1975 | Tennessee (assistant) |
| 1975–1977 | Walters State CC |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Arvis W. Davis (June 13, 1943 – September 23, 2014) was an American basketball player and coach. Davis is best known for his All-American college career at the University of Tennessee (UT). He was known by several nicknames, including the "Rutledge Rifle" and "The Man With the Golden Arm."[1]
Davis, a 6"7' center, came to Tennessee from Rutledge, Tennessee, where he once scored 71 points in a game. In his three-year college career (freshmen were ineligible at this time), Davis scored 1,255 points (17.3 per game) and 574 rebounds (8.1 per game).[1] As a senior, Davis averaged 19.6 points and 8.2 points per game and was named a first team All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association, the first player in program history so honored. He was also named first-team All-Southeastern Conference and a third team All-American by the Associated Press and United Press International.[2][3]
Following the close of his college career, Davis was drafted in the fifth round of the 1965 NBA draft (43rd pick overall), but never played in the league. He began his coaching career in 1966 at McMinn Central High School in Englewood, Tennessee. In 1969 he was named an assistant at his alma mater, and in 1975 was named head coach at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee. He left in 1979 to pursue a business career.[4] He later spent several years as an announcer for UT games.
Davis is a member of the University of Tennessee athletic Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was named to UT's All-Century team.[5]
Davis died at the age of 71 on September 23, 2014, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.[6][7]
- ^ a b "Tennessee Basketball All-Americas". Tennessee Volunteers. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Tigers' Bradley Named Player of the Year". The Progress (Clearfield, Pennsylvania). March 3, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved August 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bradley Paces All-America". Alton Evening Telegraph. March 3, 1965. p. 21. Retrieved August 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A. W. Davis Quits as Walters State Coach". Daily News. March 24, 1977. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Tennessee basketball team announces all-century team". Local8now.com. February 13, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Former Vols Basketball player A.W. Davis passes away at age of 71". WATE-TV. Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. September 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
- ^ "Obituary for: A. W. Davis | Smith-Reagan Funeral Home". Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
