Late grandmother provides inspiration for Davion Mintz

Davion Mintz said his grandmother taught him life lessons he can still use. (Jeff Houchin Photo)

If sixth-year senior guard Davion Mintz needs any extra motivation, he has it around his neck. Mintz wears a necklace with his grandmother on it to remind him of what she meant to him before her passing.

“That’s a special woman. She is the reason I am here today. You know my dad had lost his parents at a very young age and she took him in. It was her daughter that my dad lost, and she raised him from an infant to the man he is today,” said Mintz Wednesday during UK’s Media Day.

“When she was alive, she would tell me stories of how tough that was for her. And they were living in a home that had one bathroom, two bedrooms, and there were like eight children in there. So, for her to manage that alone — the things she has taught me throughout my life.

“Unfortunately, it ended in 2014, it was something I would remember forever. So that piece (necklace) means a lot to me.”

He’s hoping transfers Kellan Grady, C.J. Fredrick, and Sahvir Wheeler along with Oscar Tshiebwe who arrived in January can mean a lot to the Cats this year coming off a 9-16 season. He says their arrival is “significant” for this year’s success. 

“Having older guys come in, just the maturity level, the way we’re able to have a feel for each other at an early stage like this is going to pay a difference for the season,” Mintz said. “Just guys that can shoot the ball, guys that have seen high-level teams at different places. Like CJ  from Iowa, Kellan being successful at Davidson, Sahvir at Georgia. You just have guys that have seen different things and that is helping us a lot.”

Mintz knows UK will have way more versatility at guard this season because of the transfers.

“We have guys one through four that can bring it up. I mean, we have guys that have different talents. You can have your guards sprint up the floor if they don’t have the ball. Different guys can bring it up with it being such a talented team,” Mintz said.