Princeton in the Pros: Davis ’12 signs with new set of Tigers

Both teams are at the highest level of basketball competition in their respective countries, and Davis and Allgood will continue a proud tradition of Princetonians making an impact on European basketball. They join Dan Mavraides ’11 (Sidigas AV in Italy), Kareem Maddox ’11 (Newcastle Eagles in England), Addie Micir ’11 (Residence in Luxembourg last season), Pawel Buczak ’10 (Slask Wroclaw in Poland), Judson Wallace ’05 (Barcelona in Spain), Konrad Wysocki ’04 (EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Germany), and Mason Rocca ’00 (Virtus Bologna in Italy).

Davis connected with Walter Tigers Tubingen through childhood friend and current Tubingen teammate Reggie Redding, who informed his coach about Davis. The Tigers gave Davis the opportunity to try out, and he signed with the team on July 30. The Tigers are based in the small college town of Tubingen in Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg between the Neckar and Ammer Rivers.

“Tubingen is a very small village, but it has beautiful hills and valleys,” Davis said. “About a third of its residents are students at the University of Tubingen, so it also gives the village a college-town feel.”

Davis is adjusting to life on and off the court in Germany. While basketball is always basketball for him, there are some new quirks to playing in the Basketball Bundesliga.

“It’s kind of funny playing with different, non-American players because of the reactions they make on the court,” Davis said. “Many of the guys will yell in German if they miss, just like I would say something in English.”

Off the court is where he is facing some of the biggest adjustments. This is the farthest Davis has been from home, with Princeton being only about an hour from his hometown of Philadelphia. While there are many adjustments to make, his biggest struggle has not been on court, but on the road.

“I have developed a new respect for stick-shift drivers,” Davis said. “I think I stalled out about 70 times since I’ve been here, but I’m getting better.”

Davis and the Walter Tigers open their season on October 3 against TBB Trier at home.

“I understand that I am at a different level, so I have to prove myself all over again,” Davis said. “I look at it as a challenge. The league is tough, and I’m taking every opportunity to learn more about the game. There is so much to learn.”

Other Tigers in the pros:

catcher sam mulroy ’12 and senior pitcher Matt Bowman began their professional baseball careers this summer after being selected in June’s MLB Draft. Bowman was taken by the New York Mets in the draft’s 13th round and elected to sign with the team instead of returning to Princeton for a fourth collegiate season. The righty made his debut with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League, posting a 2.45 ERA in 29 innings with a stellar 30 strikeouts against two walks.

“[The] decision was difficult because I do have to leave my teammates at school, which I’m not too excited about,” Bowman told The Daily Princetonian in June. “But it’s always been a dream of mine to play baseball professionally, and I didn’t want to miss my opportunity to do that.”

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Mulroy, a first-team All-Ivy catcher in 2012, was drafted in the 33rd round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played 20 games for the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, batting .161 with four extra-base hits.

Tight end Harry Flaherty ’11 briefly joined the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason camp this summer. He was signed by the team on Aug. 15 and played for two of his uncles, head coach Jason Garrett ’89 and tight end coach John Garrett ’88. Flaherty was cut by the Cowboys at the NFL’s Aug. 27 roster deadline and is currently a free agent.