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Girls basketball player of the year: Stafford's Marquel Davis

Date published: 3/28/2009

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

When Marquel Davis was 7 years old, she told her mother she wanted to play in the WNBA.

The lofty goal wasn't exactly a surprise to Renee Davis. When Marquel played in the Catholic Youth Organization in Washington, she was always the top player on her team.

But even though Renee Davis never doubted, it was just this year that she realized that her daughter's potential to reach the highest level is real.

The Stafford High School junior point guard guided the Indians to Commonwealth District regular-season and tournament titles. She was named the district's co-player of the year after she became the first player in school history to reach the 1,000-point milestone as a junior.

Davis orally committed to the University of Pittsburgh last month. She has also been named The Free Lance-Star's girls basketball player of the year.

"I'm in awe of it, to be perfectly honest," Renee Davis said of Marquel's success. "It's something she's worked for and dreamed of all her life. She said she wants to go to the WNBA, and to kind of see that path coming to fruition you're like, 'Wow. This is really happening.'"

Marquel said there's plenty of work ahead if she wants to accomplish her goals. That's why she has dedicated herself to basketball.

She joined the Fairfax Stars elite AAU team in 2008. When she was younger, she marveled at WNBA stars Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes. Now she watches players her age and attempts to pick up the nuances of their games.

"Everybody I see, I try to model myself after," Marquel said. "If I see a good shooter, I'm like, 'I want my shot to be like hers.' If I see somebody really good at driving the lane, I'm like, 'I want to get to the lane like that.'"

Marquel has also found another way to gain an edge on her female counterparts: She plays with the guys at the YMCA in Stafford County on a regular basis, which she said has made her a tougher competitor.

"It makes me better because they hold no sympathy," Marquel said. "If you're on the court and you're a girl playing with them, you have to show that you can play with them."

Marquel has shown just that.

This week, The Free Lance-Star unveils its winter All-Area teams. Here is the schedule: TUESDAY: Gymnastics WEDNESDAY: Wrestling THURSDAY: Track YESTERDAY: Swimming TODAY: Girls basketball TOMORROW: Boys basketball

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Date published: 3/28/2009