The crowd of supporters in Viking Hall erupted as Jackson Davidson was declared the winner of the Toyota Classic 3-point competition on Dec. 31, 2024. But this accomplishment comes after years of hard work.
“I’m the best shooter in Tennessee,” said the “5’10’’ with shoes on” shooting guard. This embellishment isn’t too far off: Davidson has plenty of evidence to declare himself the best.
Throughout his 10 years of playing experience, Davidson has made himself a vital asset to his team. Contributing two years of playing time to varsity, Davidson receives respectable playing time and has a three-point shot average of 37%.
The competition itself consisted of two rounds, each filled with 25 shots in a one-minute time slot. There were five racks, each consisting of four balls worth one point and one ‘moneyball’ worth two points set up around the three-point line.
Davidson practiced rigorously before ultimately making the decision to sign up for the contest. In a competition against close to 25 other people, he—along with team members Colby Lamb, Zander Phillips, Russel Blevins, and Austin Thomas—represented the school. However, Davidson was the only one to make it to the second round.

“Once I got there, I knew I had won,” said Davidson as the shots just kept falling in the basket.
He describes the atmosphere as nerve wracking, since all eyes were on him. He was overwhelmed with 10 years of pressure riding on his back to make the shots. What saved him from the stress was how he “has always had confidence in [his] shot.”
The boys’ first game against Virginia High played a major role in “getting [his] confidence ready for the rest of the season,” Davidson said. With a score of 77 to 43, Davidson provided 14 points. Along with this game, his pre-game rituals allowed for him to succeed, including religiously listening to Don Toliver to lift his spirits.
Davidson explains that the best mentality to have through this process is a confident one. “If you’re not confident in your shot then they won’t go in,” Davidson said.
He leaves simple advice for anyone seeking to win a 3-point competition: “Don’t go up against me.”