LSU forward Glen Davis

High school: University Laboratory High (Baton Rouge, La.) • Coach: Ari Fisher

When is the first time you remember thinking Glen Davis had the potential to play professionally someday?: "The first time I saw him, which was in seventh grade. That's because Glen Davis was bigger than all of the other kids - and many of them were in college. He was playing in a pickup game against LSU players and I remember two moves he made. The first was a turnaround fadeaway, and the second was when he pinned a shot on the backboard and then took it coast-to-coast and laid the ball in. I'll never see anything like that again, I can assure you. That's when I knew he was destined for great things."

Glen Davis

What game sticks out the most in your memory when you look back on his high school career?: "There are several, but I'd have to pick a game that we actually lost.

"We were in Fort Myers, Fla., playing in the City of Palms Classic (one of the nation's top prep events). We reached the final and had to play Westchester from Los Angeles. They are usually ranked in the top 10 in the country and they were No. 2 that year. They had Gabe Pruitt (USC guard) and a bunch of other guys that went on to play in college.

Glen Davis got no help from his teammates, but he had 35 points and 22 rebounds. It was obscene. He was being double- and triple-teamed, but they couldn't stop him. We lost by 12 points, but he got MVP of the tournament. I was told that was the first time the MVP had come from the losing team. After the game, I remember Glen Davis was crying because we lost."

How often do you keep in touch with him?: "Probably about once a week. He's in Houston right now working out under the direction of his agent. We are still very, very close. In fact, he called me recently on his way back to Baton Rouge to finish some academic business. The New York Knicks had called me inquiring about Glen Davis, and he wanted to know about our conversation. I usually try to give him a little bit of guidance. It's rare that we talk about basketball."

When do you think he will get drafted?: Mid-to-late first round. He's being projected as a low first-round or early second-round pick, but that's without working out for anybody or the pre-draft camp. He's back down around 285-290 pounds. He got injured last season and got back up around 310 I think. It was a frustrating year. But, in Houston, he has those blinders on and is focused. He's getting sculpted physically, and once people get to see him at the camp I think he'll work his way up the draft boards - maybe as high as the middle of the first round. I think the general public will be surprised come draft night, but I don't think people in the NBA will be surprised."