As his team forges a new identity around their defensive play, senior transfer guard Johnell Davis leads the charge. Davis averaged 16 points, four assists and nearly four steals against Auburn and Missouri Tigers to grab Razorbacker of the Week honors for the first time in 2025.
Davis, who came to Arkansas from Florida Atlantic where he led his team to a Final Four and Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, was the highest rated player in the transfer portal in the offseason. He scored 14 points, four assists and three steals on Wednesday at Auburn, and improved on that Saturday against Missouri with 18 points, four assists and four steals in an Arkansas win.
"Defense is our main focus right now," said Davis who averages 10 points a game on the season. "It's just once we play defense, the offense will come easier. Off turnovers we get out of that transition and get five big points."
Davis struggled through injuries and adjusting to a new offensive system earlier in the season, but of late is showing signs of becoming the dynamic two-way threat that averaged 18 points a game at FAU.
He was the only Razorback to hit multiple three-pointers in the win over Missouri. One of them came in tandem with three-time ROW winner Zvonimir Ivisic to spark the key run that lifted Arkansas to victory over a top-15 team for the third time this season.
"We were all a little bit tired. Ain't no lot," Davis said. "After we made that second three, the crowd just went crazy. So, you know, now we had to stay with it. (Missouri) scored 48 points in the first half and 37 or something like that in the second half."