James Lee Davis doesn’t read from the Bible on a daily basis, doesn’t preach to others and doesn’t make it to church as often as he’d like. The University junior believes God has a plan for everyone, though, and he lives by the words associated with the cross tattooed on his right leg.
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” — Philippians 4:13.
Religion has been a focal point in Davis’ life for as long as he can remember, maybe even a little longer than he has liked.
“Growing up as a young ‘un, you know, you were dragged to church,” said Davis, the men’s basketball starting shooting guard. “You didn’t want to be there: It’s one of those places.”
But Davis’ father, who goes by the senior version of the same name, made sure his James and his two other children regularly attended church. And all the while, Davis’ father has been lovingly looking out for his eldest son — appropriately nicknamed “Junior” by his family.
“To me, he’s been ‘Junior’ since he was in his mother’s womb,” the elder Davis said.
As the years have gone by — 21 of them, now — Davis has found a sense of belonging through his Christian beliefs, his basketball skills and his pursuit of knowledge.
“I’m telling him every time I talk to him that he can’t bank on basketball, that he’s got to get an education too,” Davis’ father said.

Without basketball, though, “Junior” said he wouldn’t be attending the University, or any college for that matter.
“The first time I thought about college was when I was in high school playing basketball. … I was just never a big fan of school and academics,” the Vancouver, Wash., native said. “Finally, after 21 years, I’m finally starting to get the big picture and finally starting to see that school is going to help you in the long run.”
When Davis came to the University, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He enrolled in a variety of classes his freshman year, and took a liking to ethnic studies. Ultimately, Davis said he focuses on the subject because of its importance in today’s society.
“I’m really interested in different people and different ethnic groups and so that’s why I took it — just (to) get a better understanding of (what) the truths are of people’s backgrounds. … America’s becoming so diverse already, I just want to be able to relate better.”
With a little over a year remaining in his collegiate career, Davis hasn’t started looking ahead just yet. In fact, the thought of doing so is a little overwhelming for the Pacific-10 Conference’s most prolific three-point shooter.
“I’ve never been the person to kind of look ahead like that. Just let it all happen. Of course I want to look ahead a little bit. I mean, actually, I ain’t really sat — it ain’t hit me yet. I mean, this year has flown by and next year is going to go fast and then I’m almost out of here. That’s when it’s really going to hit me: Then what am I going to do?”
Davis said working for Nike would be a “dream job,” but hearing the statement is a little odd, considering it’s coming from someone who’s never really held a job. Davis worked construction for a short time to earn some cash with a group of fellow Duck basketball players, but that’s about it. Oh, and then there was the job his father got for him.
“(My father) used to clean gym floors in Portland. I used to just go there and shoot most of the time. I’d work out while he was cleaning the gym,” Davis said, laughing.
Davis grew up in a rough Northeast Portland neighborhood and didn’t move to Vancouver until he was in seventh grade. Going from a place where most kids were black to a place where most weren’t — it caught the guard off-guard. Nonetheless, he considers the move one of the best his family ever made.
“It was just a culture shock to me, even though I’m mixed — with my mom being white and my dad black — it was still just different,” Davis said.
Things were different when Davis came to the University, too. He got used to college classes and a new basketball team. He also met his girlfriend, Brianne Firkins, a former University cheerleader.
The pair now spend most of their free time together, going out to dinner, watching movies and hanging out. Having been together for two years, the couple may be gearing up for the long haul.
“When it first started out, it was a college thing: We were just hanging out, having fun,” Firkins said. “But over the past two years, I’ve seen the person he’s grown into and I’ve completely fallen in love with him. I see us together forever.”
Davis shyly talked about his relationship — perhaps because he’s occasionally heckled by his teammates and even his coach — but he said he’s very happy and called Firkins his “best friend.”
Davis said he’d like to have children within the next five years and, ideally, play professional basketball. If basketball isn’t an option, he said he’d hope to live in Beaverton and pursue a career with Nike. Whether either situation is in the cards, however, is up to God.
“Ultimately, I’d want to make a living playing basketball in the NBA or overseas. But if that’s not God’s plan, then, you know, wherever it takes me.”
And as for Davis and Firkins, can he say where they’ll be, or is that out of his hands as well?
“It is in His hands,” Davis bashfully said. “But it’s in my hands, (too).”