A. W. Davis

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]

A. W. Davis
Personal information
Born(1943-06-13)June 13, 1943
DiedSeptember 23, 2014(2014-09-23) (aged 71)
Knoxville, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolRutledge (Rutledge, Tennessee)
CollegeTennessee (1962–1965)
NBA draft1965 / Round: 5 / Pick: 43rd overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
PositionCenter
Number20
Coaching career1966–1977
Career history
As coach:
1966–1969McMinn Central HS
1969–1975Tennessee (assistant)
1975–1977Walters State CC
Career highlights and awards

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]

References
  1. "Tennessee Basketball All-Americas". Tennessee Volunteers. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  2. "Tigers' Bradley Named Player of the Year". The Progress (Clearfield, Pennsylvania). March 3, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved August 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Bradley Paces All-America". Alton Evening Telegraph. March 3, 1965. p. 21. Retrieved August 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "A. W. Davis Quits as Walters State Coach". Daily News. March 24, 1977. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  5. "Tennessee basketball team announces all-century team". Local8now.com. February 13, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. "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.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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