Anthony Davis' UK Legacy Grows by Playing for Team USA

Anthony Davis committed to the University of Kentucky in 2011 as a heralded yet mysterious high school senior out of Chicago. He burst onto the scene with a late growth spurt and a horrid unibrow that created a perfect storm of buzz and curiosity surrounding him.

By the time Anthony reached Lexington, he was already being hailed as the next great shot-blocking force in the school's history. In fact, some fans even expected him to break the single season record for blocks.

In typical Davis fashion, he wildly surpassed expectations in that regard. Though he did break the season record; what was not predicted is that he demolished it by nearly 100 blocks.

Beyond the blocks, nobody could have predicted the incredible year he had and the sort of impact that he made on the program. It is arguable that Davis has had the single most decorated year by any college player in the sport's history.

During the 2011-12 basketball season, Anthony Davis won both a national championship and the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. He was also the unanimous choice for all six Player of the Year awards. He broke the NCAA freshman record for blocks in a season with 186 swats, won the nation's Defensive Player of the Year award and was eventually drafted first overall by the New Orleans Hornets, among other accolades.

Just when everyone thought that he could not accomplish anything else, Anthony goes out and surprises us all again. Because of the injury to forward Blake Griffin, Davis was selected as a member of the Team USA Men's Basketball team for the 2012 London Olympics.

Watching him play has been surreal for Kentucky fans across the state, especially when you consider that he has yet to play a minute as a professional in the NBA. UK fans are spoiled somewhat when it comes to Olympians, as Tayshaun Prince was part of the 2008 "Redeem Team" that won the gold medal in Beijing. 

However, the last Wildcat before that was Sam Bowie in 1980. Every other Wildcat Olympian played in 1960 and before, dating all the way back to the 1948 US Men's Olympic team that featured "Wah Wah" Jones and Ralph Beard.

If Anthony wins gold this summer, he will become the 10th former Kentucky player to win a basketball gold medal. He was already on a select list because of his expansive resume, but adding victory in the Summer Olympics would add another incredible chapter to his UK legacy.

It may not be true that Anthony Davis is the greatest Wildcat in history, but he has had the best year any player could imagine. By winning a gold medal, he will have cemented his legacy under the Rupp Arena rafters with a likely retired jersey and a lifetime worth of memories for the fans. That is not too shabby for a 19-year-old high school commitment out of Chicago.