Players

Calvin Davis

Year Inducted: 1974

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations: 
(Chicago) Dunbar High School
William Penn University (IA)
Chicago Public Schools

Biography: 

Calvin Davis was known for his defensive ability as well as his offensive prowess at Dunbar from 1972-76. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per game while shooting 78 percent from the free-throw line. He played alongside future NBA guard Ronnie Lester and NBA draft pick Ken Dancy.

Davis played for a Dunbar program that won freshman and sophomore Chicago Public League titles in 1973 and 1974. The same group advanced to the CPL Final Four in 1975 with a 20-11 record and the quarterfinals in 1976 where it finished 24-6 after a 1-point loss at the buzzer to eventual Class AA state champion Morgan Park.

He played four seasons at William Penn University in Iowa and was most recognized for his uncanny 40-inch vertical jump. Davis averaged 18.5 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot a game and made 87 percent of his free throws. He earned all-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) honors in 1979 and 1980. He also received the school’s outstanding academic achievement award with a 3.9 GPA in the Master’s program.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Davis taught and coached in the Chicago Public Schools from 1981-1996, when he returned to school at Chicago State to earn a Master’s degree in educational administration. He went on to work in the Chicago Board of Education’s Sports Administration Department and spent 10 years in charge of the Chicago Public Schools’ sports programs. He was an assistant principal at Bogan High School and also an athletic director at Proviso West and Proviso East.