Davion Mintz

Classroom

Mintz earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from Creighton University in May with a grade-point average of 3.02. Mintz was also a 2017-18 Big East All-Academic Team selection.

At Kentucky, Mintz is pursuing a master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport leadership. As a high school student, Mintz was recruited by a number of Ivy League schools where he earned honor-roll accolades and was a member of the Top 100 Young Black High School Students of Charlotte and a North Carolina Boys State Delegate.

Character

During a season in which his squad went 24-7 and claimed the Big East Championship, Mintz was forced to redshirt as he dealt with season-long ankle injuries. Mintz had entered the season having made 59 consecutive starts and owned team highs among active returning players in career starts (79), games played (97), assists (259) and steals (69). Mintz was also the team captain and was forced to the bench as he opted to have a long-term natural recovery instead of surgery on his injured ankle.

While at Creighton, Mintz also participated in a black student’s bible study. The organization was school funded where minority students gathered weekly to share Bible verses and offer advice/support to fellow students. If basketball prevented him from attending in person, Mintz often time FaceTimed or called in to continue to participate.

At Kentucky, Mintz has played a leadership role for a UK team that features 10 new players to the program, including seven freshmen and is one of the captains of the team. During the summer, Mintz was one of the leaders who helped initiate a players-driven message regarding social injustices in the country. The initiative resulted in the players producing a public message brining attention to the cause, as well as internal conversations with teammates and the coaching staff about their own experiences.

Community

During his undergraduate career at Creighton, the Bluejays participated in more than 70 hours of community service each year. Projects included everything from reading at local schools to visiting and befriending patients at the local children’s hospital. Mintz also was a regular participant at the QLI developmental center. The center was specifically designed for people who were paralyzed or suffered significant injuries from incidents such as car accidents. Mintz specifically points to time at the children’s hospital and the developmental center as his favorite projects he’s participated in during his time as a collegiate athlete. The COVID-19 pandemic has halted a number of traditional Kentucky community service projects, but Mintz and his teammates did participate in the annual Christmas drive where the team – with the support of the Calipari’s and local businesses –  selects around 10-12 families to provide food, gifts, rent checks and other needs to identified families.

Competition

Mintz has played in more than 100 career collegiate games and started more than 80. A contributor in all phases of the game, Mintz has scored more than 675 points, has over 200 rebounds and dished out more than 275 assists. Mintz has scored in double figures in more than 25 career games and led his team in steals in more than 20. As a junior, he ranked second on the team with 40 steals, third with 60 free throws and fourth with 43 3-pointers. Mintz poured in a career-high 21 point and made five 3-pointers against No. 21 Marquette. As a sophomore, Mintz led the Big East and ranked 15th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio and also led the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio in league play only.