GREEN BAY, Wis. --- Amari Davis (Dayton, Ohio) and Japannah Kellogg (Ames, Iowa) signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play their collegiate basketball for the Green Bay men's basketball program, head coach Linc Darner announced. The two athletic high school seniors will join the Phoenix starting in the 2019-20 season.
"We are very excited about signing Amari and Japannah today. We feel both will come in and fit our style right away here at Green Bay," said Linc Darner. "They each come from outstanding families and strong basketball backgrounds, and we look forward to watching their senior seasons and having them join our program next season."
Davis is a 6-foot-3 combo guard that currently attends Trotwood-Madison High School, a nearby suburb of Dayton, Ohio. Set to start his senior campaign, Davis averaged 21 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 steals as a junior last season while shooting 59.4 percent and leading his team to Ohio's Division II state championship game. Davis received interest from a host of Division I schools, with even some Power 5 schools showing interest, but in the end Green Bay was his choice.
"I chose Green Bay because it felt like home to me. I knew it was somewhere I could grow as a person, both on and off the court. I could tell the coaches and players really cared for one another," said Davis.
A native of Ames, Iowa, Kellogg is a 6-foot-7 versatile forward that averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds per game for the Little Cyclones last year, also leading the team in 3-point percentage. A runner-up finisher at the Iowa state track meet last spring, Kellogg really enjoyed his visit to the city and campus in Green Bay.
"The town felt like home to me and I felt like I would be able to fit right in with the style the team plays," said Kellogg. "The team made me feel like I was one of them and the coaching staff was very welcoming, and they all got me excited to be a future Phoenix."
AMARI DAVIS
Height: 6-3
Position: Guard
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
High School: Trotwood-Madison HS
Quotes
Amari Davis: "The coaches showed that they were interested in me. That if I came to the school, I would be safe, and I'll get better as a student and a young man," said Davis. "Coach told me, 'Usually in Ohio, you have got Cincinnati, Xavier, Dayton. You have all those schools, but in Green Bay, you just have Green Bay.' I had a feeling that as soon as I get on campus, if I like it, I am probably going to commit here. They said if I put in the work, they don't have a problem playing freshmen."
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Amari comes from a program at Trotwood-Madison that plays a lot like we do here at Green Bay. They push the ball up the floor and pressure the ball in the full court. He's had some big games against some of the best high school teams in the state of Ohio. His high school is ranked No. 1 in the preseason in the state and he also received preseason first team all-state recognition, so we look forward to watching him try to lead his team back to the state championship.
Rocky Rockhold, Trotwood-Madison Head Coach: "Amari is a smooth lefty with an almost automatic mid range jump shot and plays downhill offensively. He is a four year starter and has been to two final fours and one state finals in his three years here. He has already eclipsed 1,000 points and is well on his way to becoming Trotwood's all-time leading scorer. He is an upstanding young man, all around better person than he is a player and that is saying a lot. He has a tireless work ethic. I can't recall a time since the 7th grade he has missed a workout of any kind. Amari will be a great edition to Green Bay and we are excited for him and his family to take the next steps in his basketball career."
JAPANNAH KELLOGG
Height: 6-7
Position: Forward
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
High School: Ames HS
Quotes
Japannah Kellogg: "On one side of the town, because there's a river that kind of splits up the town, on one side, it just reminded me of Ames a lot, and on the other side, it reminded me of Des Moines. It just kind of felt like home."
Linc Darner, GB Head Coach: Japannah comes from a very good high school program at Ames and he's a player that has some of his best basketball ahead of him. He can play multiple positions on the floor and we're excited because he fits the style we want to play. Japannah can step out and shoot and finish at the rim, and we look forward to having his talent here in Green Bay.
Vance Downs, Ames Head Coach: "The Ames High family would like to congratulate Japannah on his commitment today to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Phoenix has a tremendous basketball program and GB is a very respected academic institution. We feel Japannah will have a strong impact at Green Bay both on the court and in the classroom. We wish the very best for Japannah in his future endeavors at GB and beyond."
Lefty Moore, Ames Attack Coach: "Green Bay is getting a hard working kid that has his best basketball in front of him, with tons of upside. He can score at the rim and shoot the 3, and he's also a good rebounder."
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