NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
Driving around East Texas and all over main street America you will see plenty of 'Johnson and Son' furniture stores, or 'Smith Family' barbeque restaurants, but for SFA Ladyjack Annette Davis basketball is her family business.
Davis learned the game at a young age watching her father Antonio play in the NBA on television. Antonio Davis played averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds over 13 seasons in the NBA, including stints with the Pacers, Raptors and Knicks.
Now the roles are reversed. This time it is Annette's father Antonio, who recently became an analyst at ESPN, who will be watching from the sidelines.
"Of course growing up it was always 'look Dad's on TV.' But now maybe he is at home and saying 'look, there goes my girl on TV,' it's exciting," said Davis. "I just want to make everybody proud."
Davis' older sister Antoinette also played at SFA and two of her younger siblings will begin their collegiate careers at division one schools next season. The power forward, who is averaging 7 points and 7 rebounds so far this season, says growing up in a family full of athletes gives her an edge on the court.
"We are definitely competitive and not just basketball," said Davis. "It could be Monopoly, card games, you name it, but we have fun with it all the time. I think it helps because it transfers over to the court. I am a sore loser. That is why me and coach Brandon (Schneider) click so well. He hates to lose too. Whatever it takes for our team to win I am ready to do it."
Ladyjacks Head Coach Brandon Schneider says Davis' family background is a big part of why she is such a good student of the game.
"Annette's basketball IQ is really high and she picks up things really well because she has been around it her whole life," said Schneider. "It definitely doesn't hurt her game."
As Davis gets older she says she is already working on passing on the family business to the next generation.
"My sister just had a baby," said Davis. "So hopefully he will play basketball too."
Next up for Davis and the Ladyjacks, they will face Lamar in Beaumont on Saturday.
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