Fox moving up to UC Davis

 (photo courtesy of Eric Sun)

It's not always true but there are certainly times it takes greater resolve to accept that a current situation just isn't a good fit and then work to achieve a more conducive latitude and longitude. Josh Fox has done this and now he'll be attending UC Davis and playing basketball for Coach Jim Les.

At 6-foot-6 and coming out of Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Fox went with UC Riverside. As a freshman, his quickness and jumping ability contributed to averaging 9.3 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds a game before he was sidelined late in the season with a torn ACL.

That injury, a more deliberate Highlander offensive system than he expected plus a 6-25 record raised doubt about his initial decision. Ultimately, Fox transferred to City College of San Francisco for the 2013-14 season where he played on a team that finished 29-2. He contributed 9.0 points, 5.0 boards and 1.4 assists per contest, all the while still engaged in getting his leg back to 100%. Fox shot 47% overall, 37% from long distance and 71% at the foul line.

"I wanted to play [this season] and they put me on the perimeter," he explained. He has been continually working to improve his jump shot.

Davis liked what they saw -- Fox also had a career high of 22 points as a freshman against, you guessed it, the Aggies -- and extended an offer which was accepted.

So why the move up of 75 miles?

"I liked the [playing] style and the coaching staff. Coach Les and I hit it off, there was an instant connection."

The Aggies stumbled to a 9-22 record this season this season but did so minus two key frontcourt talents. The best inside player, 6-foot-7 JT Adenrele, was sidelined in August with a left knee injury and didn't play at all. 6-foot-9 Josh Ritchart participated in nine games before a lower leg injury put him out for the rest of the season. Each is expected to be back and healthy.

As to what Aggie fans will be seeing from Fox, he offered, "I play really tough and I'll bring that to the team."

A native of Fiji, Fox grew up playing rugby. He was four when the family moved to Los Angeles (Westchester), it was the Lakers resigning supreme with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Fox particularly seizes upon Bryant's uber competitiveness.

Another influence was his old brother Conrad, who later played at Sonoma State. "We were really competitive. I didn't want to be as good as him but better than him whether it be grades or playing Madden."

Speaking of the former, academics is a strong suit. "I owe that all to my Mom, she pushes me, saying I'm a student-athlete. Growing up, if my grades weren't good then I couldn't play."

He's looking to major in business with more of an organizational bent.

Asked where he will be positioned, Fox said, "All around the floor. The coaches say I'll be a matchup nightmare."

A query regarding what advice he would offer to high school seniors, Fox first offered his bonafides -- "I've gone through recruiting twice" -- then said, "Take your time. Go on visits and make sure you talk to the coaches. You can't have any second guesses."