Back from China, Devon Dotson talks about overseas experience

Following a trip to Beijing, China for the first China-USA Youth Basketball Specular, Devon Dotson spoke to JayhawkSlant.com about his experience overseas.

Willing to take on any and all takers, Providence Day High School, last season, played one of the toughest schedules in North Carolina, for public or private schools, according to MaxPreps. Coming off a season in which the Chargers won the 2016 N.C. Independent Schools 3A Championship, a state tournament that, according to MaxPreps, ranks as one of the nations five toughest to win, Providence Day loaded up on its schedule once again this season.

This season, Providence Day faced off against private school powers Fayetteville Northwood Temple and Raleigh Word of God at the Phenom Hoops Showcase at Greensboro Day School. The Chargers also squared off against the NCISAA 2A State semifinalist Gaston Day and N.C. 3A state champion Cox Mill at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge in late November.

In December, Providence Day will play in three other national tournaments: The Chick-Fil-A Classic in Columbia (Dec. 21-23), the Hoodies House National Tournament at Providence Day (Dec. 27-29) and the Big Apple Invitational in New York (Jan. 13-15).

For Head Coach Brian Field and Providence Day, nothing will compare to the recently completed trip to Beijing, China for the first China-USA Youth Basketball Specular, which took place from December 2-10.

Providence Day, Montverde (Fla.) Academy and Chaminade (CA) College Preparatory Academy were the only three teams from the United States invited to participate in the China-USA Youth Basketball Spectacular.

Dotson, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard from Charlotte, N.C., guided the Chargers to bracket play wins over a pair of Chinese young professional teams in the quarter- and semifinals.

In losing the championship game to Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Dotson, the No. 17 ranked player in the 2018 class, scored a game-high 31 points.

Early on Tuesday afternoon, Dotson, a five-star prospect, talked to JayhawkSlant.com about his trip overseas.

“The trip to China was such a great experience and its something that I’ll never forget,” said Dotson. “Its just one of those things that don’t happen very often. The flight lasted about 14 hours and once we landed, we went to the hotel and took a nap. We did a lot of really cool things during our trip.

“We went to the Great Wall one day and also visited the Forbidden City,” he added. “The hotel we stayed at was really nice and the people were very welcoming during the entire trip. The food was a lot different than what I’m used to eating, but it was great being able to experience different things.”

For Dotson, the trip to China wasn’t just about basketball. For an entire week, Dotson, with his father, Dana Dotson, by his side, took in some of the world’s most historical sites and experienced a completely different way of life.

Despite being more than 7,000 miles from home, Dotson, each and every time he took the court, only needed to look up into the stands to see his father cheering from the stands.

“Having my dad with me only made the trip better,” said Dotson. “Being able to experience everything with him was just great for me. When we were playing, it was great having my dad in the stands. Whenever I looked up into the crowd, I saw him. My dad being able to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, I’m just so happy he was with me.

“Knowing my dad was in the stands during each game was a big deal for me,” he added. “Just knowing he was right there in the crowd and just knowing he was there to support me, that was just a great feeling.”

After dropping its first game, Providence Day responded by beating a pair of Chinese Young professional teams in the quarter- and semifinals. The Chargers dropped the championship game to Montverde (Fla.) Academy, but Dotson scored a game-high 31 points.

Aside from being named to the all-tournament team, Dotson was awarded the “Most Spectacular Player” of the China-USA Youth Basketball Specular, which was given to the player that, not only made a lasting impression on the court but one that held himself to an even higher standard off the court.

In making the all-tournament team, along with being tabbed the “Most Spectacular Player” of the China-USA Youth Basketball Specular, Dotson, in a short period of time, stood out above the rest.

While he’s as good as any guard in the 2018 class, the way he carries himself off the court is equally, if not more so, impressive.

“Being named the “Most Spectacular Player” was a great honor for me,” he said. “At the end of the tournament, there was an MVP and then the award I was given. Be recognized for how I performed on the court and how I act off the court, that’s just something I’ll never forget. It's definitely an award that I was honored to receive.

“On the court, my teammates and I, we got better,” he added. “The game was definitely called differently and there was a period of adjustment, but it was a great experience. This was a bonding experience that we will never forget. The trip to China made us a better team and it should help us the rest of the season.”