Four years ago Mo’ne Davis made headlines as the first girl to pitch her team to a Little League World Series win. Now, she’s taking the same talents that made her a household name, to Hampton University. The 17-year-old senior at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia will play infielder for the Lady Pirates softball team.
In an interview with the Daily Press, Coach Angela Nicholson said she was made aware of Davis’ desire to play softball when the teen reached out to her a few months ago. However, it took some time for the all-star athlete to commit to Hampton. When Nicholson received the call from Davis about her commitment, she actually thought she was reaching out to say she had chosen another school.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man, she’s going to tell me no,’ ” Nicholson said of seeing a text from Davis that asked her to give her a ring. “So I went to the hallway to call her and said, ‘Hey, what’s up?’
“She said, ‘I’m sorry this has taken me a while, but I want to commit to Hampton University.’”
In an interview with the New York Times, she says her decision came after a cultural awakening which included meeting former President and First Lady Obama and speaking with Congressman John Lewis. “I just thought it was a perfect fit to be able to play with other girls who look like me or perhaps grew up kind of the same way I grew up.”
Nicholson and the Hampton University community feel “blessed” and “excited” to have Davis at the prestigious HBCU but insist the standout student will be treated like everybody else. At the top of their priorities is ensuring that despite the status she brings, Davis gets an organic Black college experience.
Davis is expected to enter the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications when she attends Hampton next fall.
