PROVO — Brandon Davies had a coming-out party of sorts in the Huntsman Center, where he posted the game of his career Wednesday. BYU coach Dave Rose hopes it is a sign of things to come, especially as the 27-4 Cougars gear up for postseason play.
If Davies' performance in the Huntsman Center is any indication he's broken through some kind of barrier as a college player, Rose likes what it provides his 14th-ranked squad, which is headed for TCU and Saturday's MWC regular-season finale.
Davies saved his most productive minutes of his young college career for the second matchup with the rival Utes this past week.
In that 71-51 BYU win, Davies came off the bench and scored 21 points with 7 rebounds and made his first six shot attempts. He finished 7-of-9 from the field. He was impressive in scoring on a bevy of one-handed shots, fake and makes, spins and double moves.
"It was a game we've been waiting for (him to have) for a while," Rose told reporters Thursday.
Davies needed the confidence. But Rose says it is equally key that his teammates trust him and get him the ball.
"He was on a steady path to become a consistent low-post player. He had a double-double at Air Force, kind of struggled for a game or two, then had that illness and ended up having surgery (appendectomy)," Rose said. "Then, the next couple of weeks of practice, he wasn't himself.
"But the last 10 days he rested, got better, and it culminated in having a break-out game for himself. Hopefully, his is something we can count on in this stretch."
Nobody's more pleased with the sudden upturn by the former Provo High star than his mother, who got him involved in soccer, a move that has proved key in his footwork that was on display against the Utes.
Linda Davies, who grew up in Springville, traveled clear across the continent to adopt Brandon. She first held him in Philadelphia when he was just four days old. She raised him in Utah Valley.
A single parent who adopted two other children, Linda is describes herself as a person who never found "Mr. Right" to marry, but loved children and remained determined to be a mother and raise kids.
In Brandon, she received a gifted, big, budding major college basketball player who's just scratched the surface on his potential. As evidenced Wednesday, a move to have him play youth soccer has given him great mobility as a post player.
"Brandon has always had a lot of energy," she said Thursday. Because of that, she enrolled him in every sport she could find as a youth. He really loved soccer and preferred that sport to basketball during elementary school. He played soccer in the spring and fall seasons.
"He is just an easy-going kid and grew up making a lot of friends. He especially cared about the underdog. If he ever saw a bigger kid picking on a smaller kid, he always stepped in and helped the younger child. Being big, he used that size to help others," said Linda.
"He cannot stand bullies."
That she often receives feedback from other parents and school officials in the community, praising Brandon for how he carries himself, makes Linda's day.
"That's what you hope for as a parent," she said. "You hope your son acts the right way when he's not in your house and under your thumb. It makes a parent proud."
Linda came from a big family with many siblings, and that kind of life is something she dreamed of.
She has devoted her life to raising these adopted kids, working full-time every year, but one when Brandon was two years old.
"I've tried to keep a roof over their heads and keep them in clothes and provide every opportunity I could to give them the life they deserve to have."
That's why she's grateful Brandon was given a scholarship to play basketball.
"I couldn't be more proud of him," she said. "I know it is hard to earn a scholarship and keep up with all coach Dave Rose asks him to do, but I'm happy he's doing it and having success."
Davies' showing against the Utes doesn't a season make. While the Utes are among the best defendive teams in the league, Jim Boylen's squad is susceptible to opposing post players having big games — just like Davies did.
But Rose knows March brings a ton of opportunities. If opponents have to game-plan for post points, it will do wonders for his guard-oriented, jump-shooting, fast-break oriented squad.
And Linda Davies, too.
e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com