Full-circle opportunity at Choudrant

Davion Spivey’s days of scoring buckets and dishing assists are over, but he’s still making an impact on the hardwood in Lincoln Parish.

While he’s still a proud supporter of the Bearcats, Spivey, a 2009 graduate of Ruston High School, has traded in his Bearcat red for Aggie blue to work as an assistant varsity basketball coach at Choudrant High School this season, working alongside head coach Ryan Smith.

“It has come full circle in a way, but I just love coaching, and I just felt this was a true calling and something I’ve always known I wanted to do,” Spivey said. “I’m just really excited to be here and want to thank Coach Smith for giving me this opportunity and letting me help him turn this program into a powerhouse.”

After his prep career, starting for the Bearcats from 2008-09, Spivey made his way through the JUCO and Division I ranks at Holmes Community College in Mississippi before taking his talents to the Arkansas Razorbacks a year later. In his senior season at Ruston, Spivey averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals and helped lead the program to four playoff runs, including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2008.

With experience like that, the decision was easy for Smith to bring Spivey on as an assistant and help the Aggies continue their recent history of playoff success.

“He played at an extremely high level at Division I, and he’s brought an excitement, an energy and work ethic and a renewed experience and excitement,” Smith said. “Anytime the kids can get to be around somebody like that is awesome. For a small school to have somebody to play at that level and come and help coach, it doesn’t always happen and I’m thankful for him and the time he’s put in.”

Spivey jumped right in after being officially hired and coached the Aggies’ eighth and seventh grade programs to 18-0 and 9-3 seasons, respectively.

And it’s not like coaching comes new to Spivey, having previously served as head coach at A.E. Phillips School from 2015-17 and as an assistant varsity coach at Ruston from 2017-18.

“It’s just second nature for me,” Spivey said. “I just want to give back to the community and teach kids what I’ve learned and try and make them better at everything they do.”

Spivey’s coaching has particularly helped Choudrant seniors Michael Jones and Lawson Stevens, who knew coming into the season they would have to lead after the departure of Aggies’ two leading scorers in the offseason. The duo latched on to Spivey and have spent as many hours allotted in the day working with their new coach.

“Him, Michael, and Lawson have been here at six in the morning several times,” Smith said. “Just super lucky to have him and for him to be out here and have a chance to coach and have guys like him. And I thank Mr. Jones, our principal, who fully supports what we’re doing athletic wise.”

Spivey said the connection with Jones and Stevens quickly came thanks to each of them holding a competitive spirit toward basketball and the desire to get better. Spivey worked with Jones on developing his jump shot, along with becoming more comfortable in attacking with his left hand.

“It’s been great with both of them,” Spivey said. “Honestly, it feels like I’ve been around them since elementary school just in terms of how quick we built a relationship, and they know I have their back and I’m here to support them for their last season and make sure they’re successful.”