Rialto High School prolific scorer Carrington Davis models JuJu Watkins, sees entire court

The 5-foot-10 junior averages more than 28 points per game for the 23-3 Knights, but scoring is only a portion of what she provides one of Southern Section's top teams

PHELAN, CALIFORNIA — Carrington Davis blocks a shot on the baseline, grabs the ball, and speeds toward the other end.

She switches the ball from hand to hand, Euro-steps, and kisses the ball softly off the glass for another two points. The Rialto High girls basketball team clobbers Serrano High of Phelan 64-21 en route to a Serrano tournament title.

And yet, it’s not Davis’ wondrous skills that lift Rialto (23-3). Destiny Rabino leads the Knights in scoring this night with 23 points including making seven 3-pointers. Back-up Aubree Rhymes contributes 16 points while Davis chips in with a mere 12 points. Rather, it’s Davis’ patience, unselfishness, and big-sister-like approach on a team with only one senior that helps propel the Knights.

“I feel like, if they’re open, get them the ball,” Davis said following the blowout. “I have a lot of confidence in them.”

Carrington Davis, a 5-foot-10 junior wing, averages more than 28 points per game for the 23-3 Rialto Knights.  / Photo: John Murphy

Maturity matters

Make no mistake, Davis is the leader of the Knights, who closes the regular season at home Thursday versus Summit. 

Through the team's first 24 games, she averaged 28.8 points per game — third most in the Southern Section — to go along with 12.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Last season she led Rialto to a CIF-Southern Section Division 4AA title win against Buena Park by scoring 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. On the season, she averaged 24.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. 

But for a 16-year-old girl with two pre-teen brothers — Cayden (11) and Carson (5) – it’s her steady hand and ability to let the game come to her that makes Davis special.

Given that, it’s no great surprise she has a tremendous role model.

“I like JuJu Watkins,” Davis said of the USC women’s basketball standout.

“I watched her play at Sierra Canyon, and we’ve also been to USC to see her play. I like how easy it is for her on the court. She gets to her spots on the floor, and she plays all-around – not just offense and not just defense. She’s able to push the ball after a rebound and get it to the right spots.”

Sounds like someone Rialto coach Robert Goodloe knows well.

“Carrington’s a gifted athlete and she’s worked hard to get where she’s at,” Goodloe said. “She has a true passion for the game and for winning.”

Not only is Davis (22) a big-time scorer, but she averages 5.1 assists per game.  / Photo: John Murphy

Role model

Davis, like so many great players before her, grew up playing at Rialto’s Johnson Center. She didn’t start until she was 8, after dalliances with softball and soccer.

“I could barely catch the ball. I could barely make a lay-up. I could barely dribble,” Davis said. “But I always watched my dad play and I felt a connection to basketball.”

Davis’ dad, Tyrell Parks, played for former coach Steve Johnson at Eisenhower High of Rialto and is an assistant to Goodloe. Her mom, Angela Parks, played four sports including basketball at Eisenhower and competed in softball at North Carolina A&T.

“I wanted to get better,” Davis said. “Some of the travel teams I was on, I felt like the other girls were way better than me and way more advanced. My goal was to be better than those girls. So I always worked out and practiced on my game and ended up passing them.”

The result is a junior, 5-foot-10 point forward who is already a section champ and last season was named section co-player of the year. Davis has a scholarship offer from UC-Riverside and has attracted the interest of UNLV, Colorado State, UC-Santa Barbara, and Gonzaga.

Carrington Davis has a scholarship offer secured to Riverside, but will likely be getting more offers following a big junior season.  / Photo: John Murphy

Brotherly love

Asked what people don’t know about her daughter, Davis’ mom said, “People don’t know how much she loves her little brothers. She entertains them and watches over them and occasionally cooks for them. She makes rice, spaghetti, chicken, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Easy stuff. She’s patient with Cayden who has a speech delay. She’s kind and urges him to use his words, like to say ‘milk’ instead of just pointing at it.”

As for middle sibling Cayden, he is like the pebble in the Rialto star’s sneaker that she’s constantly trying to extract.

“He wants to play me all the time but when I play him, he winds up losing,” Davis said with a laugh. “When he loses, he wants a re-play, every single time. I always win but everyone tells me the time is coming when I won’t.”

John Murphy is the sports editor for Century Group Media of Southern California. Follow him at @PrepDawg2.