From www.risemag.com:
Baron Davis is flying high right now. He enters the 2007-08 NBA season fresh off an electrifying playoff run last spring that included a historic upset for his eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors over the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks. But the spotlight is nothing new to Davis. As a senior at Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.) in 1996-97, the point guard averaged 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Davis also set the stage for life after basketball at Crossroads.
While attending school with future movie star Kate Hudson, Davis developed an interest in film and currently runs his own production company, Verso Entertainment. Despite his busy schedule, which included serving as a celebrity coach for this year’s Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker Park in Harlem, we were able to catch up with Davis to look back on where it all began. — Burton Chawla
RISE: What do you miss most about your high school days?
Baron: In high school there was no responsibility. All you had to be responsible for was yourself. You are young and it seems like the adult world, but it’s not. When you get into the real world, that’s when you realize how much responsibility is out there.
RISE: Do you keep in touch with any of your teammates or coaches from high school?
Baron: I keep in touch with my high school coach. He works with me on my basketball camps. I work with all of my high school teammates.
Those are friendships that last. It is great to watch people grow and become adults.
RISE: Who was your toughest opponent in high school?
Baron: The toughest team-wise was Mount Zion (N.C.) with Tracy McGrady and Dominguez (Calif.) with Tay (Tayshaun Prince) and Kenny Brunner. The toughest high school players I ever faced were Kenny Brunner and Larry Hughes.
BARON DAVIS
CROSSROADS (SANTA MONICA, CALIF.)
CLASS OF 1997
POINT GUARD
HS FAVORITES (1996-97)
MOVIE: “HOOP DREAMS”
MUSICAL ARTIST: 2PAC
VIDEO GAME: NBA LIVE ’95
FOOD: BURRITOS
SCHOOL SUBJECT: MATH
ATHLETE: ALLEN IVERSON
RISE: How competitive is high school basketball in California?
Baron: It is super competitive. There are 30 different AAU teams in California. The talent is overwhelming and unbelievable. To be the No. 1 guy in California or even just Los Angeles is a big deal. It was something I accomplished my senior year, and it was one of my proudest moments.
RISE: How big is high school basketball in Los Angeles?
Baron: The hype, the buzz, everything was great. We have the Lakers, Clippers and UCLA, and high school ball was still getting as much attention. We had an incredible class. It helped me become the player I am today. We weren’t as talented at Crossroads, so to be able to lead my team to victories was a tremendous opportunity that I cherished.
RISE: What helped get you to the next level?
Baron: I believed in the game. I studied the game. I treated basketball like I treated school. I always played against people that were better than me. Basketball was my life — it is my life. I didn’t have much of a social life because I was always playing ball. You have to want to be a basketball player to get to the next level. The benefits are well worth it.