Onsted's Ayden Davis cements legacy
ADRIAN — During Brad Maska's tenure leading the Onsted boys basketball team, the Wildcats have won four district championships.
Ayden Davis is in all four of those team photos.
"Ayden is a phenomenal kid," Maska said. "He's in every one of those pictures, either as a manager or a player. He's made an impact on this program and this community as impactful as his brother. Those boys have done so much for our program and our community.
"He has a heart of lion, playing against two or three guys hanging on him all night. I'm excited to see him play at the next level when he doesn't have to see that."
Despite being double and triple teamed night in and night out, Davis finishes with 1,894 points, the most in Lenawee County history for a boy in MHSAA play. He also has the record for most rebounds and blocked shots, breaking brother Austin Davis' records.
"Austin set the bar pretty high," Maska said. "Ayden jumped over that bar in a lot of ways. He used his brother as a springboard and Austin helped him become the player he is today. Austin is his biggest fan and he'll say those records have an asterisk because we played more games, but I'm really proud of Ayden."
Not only did Ayden feel the pressure of a swarming defense, but he had a lot of pressure coming in as a freshman having to live up to his brother's giant shoes.
He took on the pressure and thrived in it, becoming a BCAM Mr. Basketball finalist and committing to Division I Wright State while becoming one of, if not the, best boys basketball player in county history.
"The pressure is enormous," Ayden said. "Every student section had something to say about (Austin). Freshman Ayden that probably would've bothered me a lot, but I know that I proved myself, I don't want to say that I'm better than him, but I proved I made my mark at this school."
Despite all the records, it doesn't make Thursday's final less bittersweet for Davis It wasn't only Davis' run ending Thursday in the Division 2 regional final loss to Chelsea, but it was end for fellow seniors Quinn Hiram and Connor Szul, who have been with Ayden every step of the way.
"All three are tremendous character kids," Maska said. "Quinn, Connor and Ayden have been a part of this program for a long time and they were the reason why we were able to get to where we did this season."
Even though Davis and his fellow seniors Hiram and Szul won't be putting the Onsted uniform on anymore, it was evidence from the many former Wildcats in the stands Thursday night the trio will always have a place in the program.
"I get emotional being here 17 years and looking in the crowd and seeing players who were part of this program," Maska said. "We wear shirts that say Family on them because that's what we're about. To see these kids come back and support our program. They are family for life."
They should have a lot to cheer for as well as sophomore Rylan Henagan has two more seasons while JT Hill, Aidan Paquin and Talan Hutchinson will all return for their senior seasons and will look to keep the LCAA title run going.
"I'll have them all in the gym this summer and I'll have them ready for next year," Davis said.
Davis is excited to begin his time with the Raiders as he looks forward to the next step in his life and Wright State should excited for the character the program will be welcoming in.
"Hoping for a lot of success and a lot of wins," Davis said. "Hoping to make a lot of memories and make a lot of brothers and have a great college career."
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Onsted's Ayden Davis creates own legacy as Lenawee County legend
