CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head Coach Brad Underwood announced Tuesday that Jake Davis has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois and will join the Fighting Illini program as a transfer.
Davis is a 6-foot-6-inch, 210-pound forward from McCordsville, Indiana. He played this past season at Mercer, where as a freshman he saw action in all 33 games with 25 starts and led the team with 943 minutes played (28.6 mpg).
Davis ranked third on the Bears in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds. He led Mercer with 60 three-pointers while shooting 38.7% behind the arc (60-155) and paced the team at the free-throw line, shooting a team-high 84.8% (39-46). Davis scored in double figures 12 times with three 20-point games, highlighted by a season-high 26 points vs. Georgia State (12/9/23). He knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers against UNC Greensboro (2/24/24) on his way to a 21-point night, and he also had 21 points with a career-high nine rebounds at Samford (1/20/24).
"Jake is an elite shooter," Underwood said. "He has great size as a wing with the ability to shoot off the move and come off screens. He is a high-IQ player who has been well coached and is a winner. Jake is coming off a great freshman season at Mercer; we're excited about adding him to the roster and his future in our program."
Davis attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, where he helped guide the Fighting Irish to the 2022 IHSAA Class 4A state championship as a junior, and sectional championship as a senior in 2023. He was a two-time honorable mention all-state selection by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and was recognized as an Academic All-State performer.
Davis is a 6-foot-6-inch, 210-pound forward from McCordsville, Indiana. He played this past season at Mercer, where as a freshman he saw action in all 33 games with 25 starts and led the team with 943 minutes played (28.6 mpg).
Davis ranked third on the Bears in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds. He led Mercer with 60 three-pointers while shooting 38.7% behind the arc (60-155) and paced the team at the free-throw line, shooting a team-high 84.8% (39-46). Davis scored in double figures 12 times with three 20-point games, highlighted by a season-high 26 points vs. Georgia State (12/9/23). He knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers against UNC Greensboro (2/24/24) on his way to a 21-point night, and he also had 21 points with a career-high nine rebounds at Samford (1/20/24).
"Jake is an elite shooter," Underwood said. "He has great size as a wing with the ability to shoot off the move and come off screens. He is a high-IQ player who has been well coached and is a winner. Jake is coming off a great freshman season at Mercer; we're excited about adding him to the roster and his future in our program."
Davis attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, where he helped guide the Fighting Irish to the 2022 IHSAA Class 4A state championship as a junior, and sectional championship as a senior in 2023. He was a two-time honorable mention all-state selection by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and was recognized as an Academic All-State performer.
