Davin Cosby Jr. an Unlikely Star in Alabama Basketball's Victory Over Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – Coming into Wednesday, Alabama guard Davin Cosby Jr. was an afterthought.
Cosby Jr, a 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman early enrollee from the 2022-23 season, had been averaging 3.1 points per game on the season and hadn't played double-digit minutes in any game since Dec. 23 versus Eastern Kentucky.
However, in a time when the Crimson Tide needed it the most with the absence of guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Cosby Jr.'s name was called in heroic fashion – tallying 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting from three-point range in Alabama's 103-88 victory over Ole Miss on the road.
For Cosby Jr., Wednesday's performance was a culmination of a yearlong personal progression.
"I feel like all season I just had the roll of being having my teammates," Cosby Jr. said. "Being a leader off the court, helping everybody else see what I see, and then, like coach said I waited my time and practiced hard and I had a great practice last practice, and when the time showed, I came and I showed out."
For senior guard Aaron Estrada, who posted a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, seeing Cosby Jr. have success on the hardwood is a sight for sore eyes.
"Davin, his attitude all season has been A-plus I feel like," Estrada said after the game. "Just from observing when I'm playing, and being around him [...] talking to him off the court, in the hotel, in the lockeroom and stuff, he never had a bad attitude, he was never, you know, jealous or complaining, or anything like that stuff so I'm actually happy for him as well even though I think he deserves it. He always practices hard, he always goes hard every drill, so I'm happy for him."
While Cosby Jr. had been quietly waiting in the wings for his next opportunity, a near pitch-perfect practice before the game seemingly forced Alabama head coach Nate Oats' hand.
"I thought he played really hard yesterday," Oats said. "You know, he's been on the scout team pretty much all year, and we had him playing Matthew Murrell. He can shoot it. He was 11 out of 22 in practice yesterday from three, but he was playing hard. It wasn't just he was shooting. So, he obviously made shots at a high clip, but he also played really hard. [...] we needed his 15 points to win the game. It was big for us."
When asked if Cosby Jr, knew that he'd have an increased role versus the Rebels, the Richmond, Va. native deferred, stating that he was ready for any responsibility thrown his way.
"I didn't know how many minutes I was going to get," Cosby Jr. said. "I just told them. Whatever minutes, whatever role I gotta play on the court, I would do it. Regardless of just scoring, or just playing defense. [...] I lost myself in the game and just let it flow."
Heading into a pivotal matchup versus No. 4 Tennessee at Coleman Coliseum on Saturday, Cosby Jr. believes that playing for a savvy coach like Oats is to his ultimate benefit.
"It's a blessing," Cosby Jr said. "He's a great coach and I learn a lot from him. And, you know, he's keeping me to a high standard, and I'm glad I am held to a high standard."
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