Digital Harbor's two Div. I seniors
George Jackson has left Digital Harbor and taken his game across town to Coppin State. 
But while Jackson, a Baltimore Sun first-team All-Metro selection, is gone, the defending Class 1A state champion Rams won’t be devoid of talent.
Digital Harbor coach Johnnie Grimes’ quest to repeat as state champions will depend largely upon seniors Davon Usher, 6 feet 5, and Justin Jackson, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound point guard and George Jackson’s younger brother.
Usher’s stock rose dramatically this summer, and Grimes witnessed it firsthand while serving as an assistant coach for Nike Baltimore Elite. When Will Barton and Josh Selby were at the NBA Top 100 Camp one week in June, Usher “really just blew up” at a tournament in Chantilly, Va. Thanks to his summer on the AAU circuit, Usher has heard from a host of mid- and high-major schools.
“He’s like the best-kept secret. He’s really starting to come into his own,” Grimes said. “I know in particular, George Mason [has expressed interest], Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, they are really high on Davon Usher. Oklahoma was showing interest and UMBC. Quinnipiac is another school that’s on Davon Usher real heavy. ... Virginia Tech is interested in Davon, too.”
Usher averaged around 16 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. Grimes expects those numbers to go up this year. Usher’s long-term potential is high, Grimes said.
“Davon, in college, would probably be a 2-guard,” Grimes said. “He can pass the ball and he’s 6-5. He’s very crafty with the ball. He has real good court vision and he shoots the ball very well from mid-range. He has a little work to do on his defense, but offensively, that’s his strong point.”
Jackson was slowed last season by a high ankle sprain, but still managed to average “around 13 or 14” points per game, according to Grimes. With his older brother at Coppin, Jackson will now be counted on to run the point for Digital Harbor. The brothers Jackson are talented but different, according to Grimes.
“With George, he’s a tremendously hard worker,” Grimes said. “Justin really has the natural ability. He’s very skillful -- it’s easy for him to score in a variety of ways. Justin’s going from being a 2-guard and now making the transition to being the point guard. Now you really get to see exactly how he’ll be able to lead the team. He’s very crafty as well and smart. He’s definitely going to show all his talent.”
On the recruiting front, Jackson has received interest from a couple different schools in the Baltimore-Washington area.
“As far as Justin, it’s been pretty much George Mason and UMBC,” Grimes said.
Grimes is confident that both seniors will sign with Div. I schools, if not next month, then definitely during the spring signing period.
Baltimore Sun photo of Davon Usher by Gene Sweeney Jr. / March 13, 2009
