The wait is over for Freedom High School's basketball star Donovan Davis. The 6-foot-8 standout announced on May 6 that he will be taking his talents to Iowa State University, choosing the Cyclones from a long list of impressive suitors.
Flanked by a packed crowd of family and supporters inside the Freedom fieldhouse, Davis made the announcement with a mix of relief and pure excitement. "To have the opportunity to play college basketball has always been a dream of mine," Davis said. "And to play for a really good team like Iowa State? It's a dream come true."
The decision wasn't easy. Just days earlier, on May 1, Davis had lined up official visits to Wisconsin, Iowa, Marquette, Nebraska, and Iowa State. His offer sheet also included Syracuse, Colorado State, and Cal-Berkeley—a testament to his rising stock in the basketball world. Currently ranked as the No. 32 overall recruit in the 2027 class by Rivals.com, Davis is clearly a player to watch.
This past season, the junior forward was a force to be reckoned with. He earned Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association all-state honors in Division 3, took home North Eastern Conference Player of the Year accolades, and even made the league's all-defensive team. His stat line was nothing short of dominant: 21.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game for the Irish.
At Iowa State, Davis will be joining a program on the rise under head coach T.J. Otzelberger, a Milwaukee native who has deep Wisconsin roots. Otzelberger, a two-year captain at UW-Whitewater, recently signed a 10-year contract extension through 2036 after guiding the Cyclones to their third Sweet 16 appearance in five years. This past season, Iowa State finished 29-8—tied for the second-most wins in school history—and ended the year ranked No. 8 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
Otzelberger has made Wisconsin a priority in recruiting, and Davis will join a roster that already features several players from the Badger State, including Jamarion Batemon, Anthony Rise, and Milan Momcilovic. For Davis, the choice was clear: a top-tier program, a coach who understands his game, and the chance to make his mark in the Big 12.