Davidson’s all-decade basketball team features excellence in 2 conferences

Davidson switched conferences in the middle of the last decade and the Wildcats kept rolling along.

Going from the Southern Conference to the more competitive Atlantic 10 in 2014, Davidson coach Bob McKillop has continued to churn out top-notch teams. The Wildcats made four NCAA tournament appearances during the decade and three more in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Wildcats opened the decade with Southern Conference tournament championships in 2012 and ’13. Since joining the A-10, they won the regular-season championship in 2015 and the league tournament in 2018.

To do all that, McKillop needed some excellent players. Here are the best of them, Davidson’s All-Decade team:

PEYTON ALDRIDGE, F, 2014-18

Aldridge personified Davidson’s rise in the Atlantic 10, becoming one of just five Wildcats players to score more than 2,000 points in his career. He’s also third on the career rebounding list with 892.

A threat from anywhere on the court, he was named the A-10’s co-player of the year as a senior, when he averaged 21.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. He scored 45 points in a memorable triple-overtime loss at St. Bonaventure.

Aldridge is playing pro ball in Turkey this season.

JON AXEL GUDMUNDSSON, G, 2016-present

Now a senior, Gudmundsson had one of the best seasons in Wildcats history in 2018-19, being named the A-10’s player of the year after finishing near or at the top of many statistical categories, including scoring (16.9), rebounding (7.3), assists (4.8), double-doubles (nine), free-throw percentage (82.6), 3-point percentage (35.3), assist-turnover ratio (2.0), defensive rebounds (6.6) and minutes played (36.9).

As a sophomore, Gudmundsson became one of five players in the past 25 years to finish the regular season with at least 13 points, six rebounds, five assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

But what has set Gudmundsson apart over his three-plus seasons is his fearlessness as a competitor. He’ll go to the basket, dive for a loose ball, take the big shot — most anything — if that’s what’s needed.

JACK GIBBS, G, 2013-17

Not the biggest — 6-foot — but one of the craftier players the Wildcats have ever had. Gibbs is fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 2,036 points. He had three 40-plus points games, including a career-high 43 against Massachusetts in 2016.

Only Wildcats legends like Stephen Curry, John Gerdy, Mike Maloy, Dick Snyder and Fred Hetzel had a higher scoring average in one season than Gibbs’ 23.5 in 2015-16.

Gibbs, with a no-bounce, no-hesitation free throw style, was 82.0 percent from the line over his career. He’s playing pro ball in Belgium this season.

DE’MON BROOKS, F, 2010-14

Brooks, out of Charlotte’s Hopewell High, had one of the more distinguished careers in Wildcats history. Averaging 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds over his career, he was named the Southern Conference’s player of the year twice (sharing it with teammate Jake Cohen in 2011-12).

He did that honor one better as a senior when he was named the league’s male athlete of the year in 2013-14. Brooks has played overseas since leaving Davidson and is in Japan this season.

JAKE COHEN, F, 2009-13

While Brooks was winning the Southern Conference’s player of the year by the league’s coaches in 2012, Cohen won the media vote. A year later, Cohen won the honor by himself.

Eighth on Davidson’s all-time scoring list (1,795) and 11th in rebounds (765), Cohen teamed with Brooks for three seasons on the SoCon’s top frontcourt. Cohen has been playing in Israel since leaving Davidson and is on the country’s national team.

Sixth man

KELLAN GRADY, G, 2017-present

If Grady’s career — he’s a junior this season — continues on this trajectory, it would be impossible to keep him out of the top five of Davidson’s all-decade team. Rebounding from a knee injury as a sophomore, he’s averaging 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists (all games played in 2019, incidentally).

The A-10’s freshman of the year and a first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore, Grady is also probably the Wildcats’ best NBA prospect since Stephen Curry.

In the team picture

▪ Tyler Kalinoski was the star of Davidson’s first Atlantic 10 team, winning league player of the year honors. He’s the only player in program history with at least 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 made 3-pointers.

▪ Brian Sullivan, who transferred from Miami (Ohio), played three seasons and finished his career ranked among Davidson’s all-time leaders in scoring (28th, 1,257), 3-pointers made (second,, 272) and 3-point field-goal percentage (10th, 38.1).

▪ Guard JP Kuhlman is one of six Davidson players (along with Kenny Wilson, Curry, Gibbs, Kalinoski and Gudmundsson) with more than 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.

▪ Guard Nik Cochran’s 89.2 free-throw percentage is best in program history. Second? Curry’s 87.6.