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2015-16 was a banner season for Myles Davis.
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The 6'2" combo guard from North Jersey was a huge veteran presence for the Xavier Musketeers. His potent outside shooting (38.1% from three), pinpoint passing ability (team high 4.1 apg), and above-average rebounding ability for a player his size (13 games with 4 or more boards) helped Xavier reach impressive heights last season. The Musketeers amassed their most wins in a season since 2007-08, their highest overall win percentage since 1989-90, and finished the year with their highest AP ranking in school history (9th, peaking at a school-high 5th during the year).
Myles wasn't normally the forefront of the Musketeer's offense, but that didn't keep him from producing some big nights. His biggest came when he scored 24 points (2nd most in his career) and dished out 7 assists on Senior Night vs. Creighton. His most notable game was his triple-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists against Providence on February 17th, the program's first triple double since 2011. He even helped take down crosstown rival Cincinnati on December 12th with a 17-point outing on 7/10(!) shooting.
Overall, the numbers looked great for Myles Davis, with the potential for them to improve even more. With the departure of James Farr, Davis holds the active record for most games as a Musketeer: 104. This makes Myles the indisputable senior leader, tasked with helping a now-younger Xavier squad match or surpass the success of last season.
According to his per 40 minutes stats, Davis saw a surge from his freshman to sophomore year due to more playing, his averages from sophomore to junior year increased at a much steadier rate. While his shooting and steal averages held even, his rebounds and assists shot up. With the new season on the horizon, the question is where - and if - Myles can improve in any statistical area?
Before peering too far into the future, Myles has found himself in a legal situation that needs to be resolved; presumably before he returns to the Cintas Center floor in November.
According to WLWT TV and the Cincinnati Enquirer, Davis has been charged with criminal damaging after allegedly damaging his former girlfriend's phone. She has also received a three-year order of protection against him, barring him from being within 10 feet of her on campus and 500 feet everywhere else. Though he "vehemently denies" any of the allegations, he agreed to the order because his lawyer states he "wants to stay away from this girl".
The former girlfriend's statement for the order of protection - which was filed in Kenton County, Kentucky - featured accusations of harassment and threats through e-mail and in person, allegations of Myles breaking other phones that belonged to her, and causing property damage to her walls and nearly her windows. The criminal case - being tried in Hamilton County, Ohio - only focuses on the single phone valued at $200.
There is a gulf between potential consequences in this case. The maximum penalty for misdemeanor criminal damaging in Ohio, is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, Davis's lawyer entered a written plea of not guilty to the court on Monday, meaning that he could walk away without penalty if the court rules in his favor. Any outside determination of where this incident falls on that spectrum would be purely speculative.
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With the details of the situation murky and - by extension - the possible verdict up in the air, one can only watch from a distance and hope that justice is served in the end. If Myles Davis and his lawyer are able to resolve this case by the start of the season and with little or no penalty, the Musketeers will be getting back a senior leader that will be a crucial cog in the Team 95 machine.