EL PASO, Texas – Since Tim Floyd returned to UTEP, he has made it a point to honor some of the most successful Miners of all time. He began the practice last season and has continued it into this season.

To say the return of UTEP legends has been special this season is an understatement. This week UTEP honored a player that has served his time at UTEP, Europe, and the NBA — Antonio Davis.

The one time NBA all star has even served as the president of the National Basketball Players Association, and is a well respected professional that NBA players know and care about.

The six foot nine forward came to UTEP via Oakland, California where he was recruited by then assistant coach Tim Floyd to play for legendary head coach Don Haskins. The only problem that ensued was that once Davis made it to UTEP Floyd was given his first coaching opportunity at the university of Idaho. Davis can laugh about it now because he says that Floyd protected him from Haskins.

“I appreciate him so much even though I never played for him and for some reason he was the star that started my whole journey,” Davis said. “The biggest reason I came was to play for coach Haskins, although I love coach Floyd and appreciate having him tell coach Haskins I was worthy enough to come to UTEP but I was here because Don Haskins was going to teach me the right way to play basketball.”

Davis’ freshman year he only averaged eight minutes a game, one point, and one rebound per game; he was merely a 17 year old that weighed 190 pounds and was still learning under Haskins. His sophomore year was where the big improvement came from because he averaged 30 minutes, nine points, and six rebounds per game and played a vital role in that years NCAA tournament victory over Arizona in overtime in the first round. It was the experienced gained in that season that set him up for his best yet.

Davis’s breakthrough year was his junior season in which he scored averaged 14 points and eight rebounds per game. That year UTEP finished 21-7 tied for second in the WAC and won the conference tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In that NCAA tournament appearance they defeated an LSU squad that was led by Shaquille O’Neal, but ultimately lost to Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers.

Davis’ senior year followed up his strong junior season by averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game. The Miners went 21-11 tying for third in the conference, but once again won the conference tournament. The trip to the NCAA tournament saw them losing to Minnesota in the first round in overtime.

UTEP had certainly accomplished a lot during Davis’ time, but he knows that it all came because of what he learned from coach Haskins.

“It was almost like a dad growling at you every day, and you’re wondering what did I do to deserve this? But at the same time you’re appreciative and understanding what he’s saying,” Davis said laughingly. “He would pull you into his office after practice one on one and talk about something that you wondered about during practice. Then, the next day at practice it clicked and realized that’s what he was talking about.”

“He was just such an amazing man with such care in his heart that you didn’t mind him yelling at you because deep down inside you knew he cared about you.”

It wasn’t just Haskins and Floyd mentioned about his time at UTEP, but he talked about his roommate of three years assistant coach Greg Foster. Davis talked about how much having Foster at UTEP really helped him out and what a great friend he was to him during his time with the Miners.

“The best player I played with was Tim Hardaway, but the person I love the most is Greg Foster,” Davis said when asked about his best teammate. “I roomed with him for three years and he’s like my brother.”

Antonio Davis went onto accomplish great things in the NBA, but if you ask any El Pasoan they’ll always remember him as a great UTEP Miner for life.

Gus Contreras may be reached at show@minerillustrated.com or on Twitter at @GusContreras21.