Meet Davion Mize

 (Mize was selected to the Modesto JC all tourney team)

6-foot-2 Davion Mize is Mr. Popular every time he steps on to the court for a Contra Costa College basketball game. That's because, once the clock begins, each member of the opponent starting quintet wants to make his acquaintance. Whether it be via a box-and-one, diamond-and-one or five-on-one, the task for his coterie of defenders is to stay up close and personal, no de-friending, all night.

Still, Mize ranks eighth in scoring in the state at 21.8 points per game while shooting 47%, 36% and 76% respectively. He is also grabbing 6.0 rebounds a contest as well as passing out 3.4 assists an outing. Add 32 steals thus far this season and Mize's well-roundedness is fully demonstrated.

A First team All-Conference selection last season, he is contending for Most Valuable Player honors in 2013-14.

"Davion can score, play the point, rebound and he plays hard at both ends of the floor," Contra Costa College Coach Miguel Johnson offered.

Johnson added, "He's athletic and can create his own shot."

The Comets are very young this season and, most of the time, it's Mize alongside four freshmen.

Such may be a lot of responsibility to bear but Mize has stepped up when needed. Try the winning three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left against Solano College or the winning free throw versus Mendocino College.

In a way, Mize's performances shouldn't be unexpected. Playing in three state title games for Salesian High plus starting all three years provided a very solid résumé of experience.

Speaking of his time at Salesian, Mize recalled the box-and-ones and triangle-and-twos his high school teammates, Jabari Bird and Dom Artis, used to face. Little did he know such would be his constant companion on the court just two years later.

When asked for his best basketball skill, Mize said first and foremost, "being competitive."

Combine that with what he acknowledges as upgrades in his game since his senior year of high school -- "I'm see a lot more on the court, I'm a lot smarter and stronger, my jumpshot has gotten better and I'm more of a leader" -- and it's not difficult to understand how critical Mize is to to Contra Costa Costa basketball as both a numbers producer and pacesetter.

Because of the Comet youthfulness, "I'm more vocal this season and a leader on and off the court this season."

Mize sees Tony Melendez as his biggest basketball influence. A member of the family, Melendez works in the youth basketball department of the Golden State Warriors as well as an assistant at Head Royce School in Oakland and is a longtime Bay Area basketball fixture.

On target to graduate in the spring, Mize has interest in both communications and sociology as major possibilities. "I'd like to work with kids and get them headed on the right path."

He's being looked at to play as a combo guard at the next level and, as for recruiting, "I will do what's best for me" although he has a preference for remaining on the West Coast.