MADISON- He’s nicknamed “Big Country” for his enormous size of 6-foot-10, 210 pounds, but in some ways Brody Davis is more than a big-size basketball player for the James Clemens Jets.

The junior starting center for the Class 7A Jets is playing in the current campaign after undergoing two foot surgeries and a transformation in weight as Davis has trimmed down as much as 65 pounds from his heaviest weight of 275 pounds and has made an impression to those around him.

“The highest weight was just after my first foot surgery where I grew up to 275 pounds, but have toned down since that time through exercise and a change in diet,” said Davis. “I’m still working my way back into competition weight as I run when I can, lift weights every chance I get and have certainly tried to watch what I eat on a daily basis.”

In Nov. of 2017, Davis suffered a left foot injury during practice. The injury required surgery as a surgeon inserted a screw to assist in healing. In Feb. 2019, again Davis suffered a foot injury only this time it was during a game against Austin High and was his right foot. Just as the first surgery, a surgeon inserted a screw utilizing the very same type of procedure.

After each surgery Davis was forced off the court and his usual routine of exercise. He gained weight and soon had to fight the overweight phase in his youth and battle back to a comfortable and athletic weight that has led him to be an outstanding player on the court.

“Coach Travis Hunt introduced me to Kelly McCarty an athletic trainer who I asked what could I do while I was in the surgical boot I wore post-surgery. Kelly suggested upper body workouts including weight training and I in-turn chose to diet,” said Davis. “For three months I chose not to eat meat, no animal based products and I cut back on my carbs. All of that allowed me to lose 40 pounds.

He got back to walking and running on a regular routine used the set of weights he has in his home and watched his diet from the standpoint of proportions. He’s back to what he said was “My basketball shape.”

Much like any extremely tall person, Davis has had his share of experiences of being sometimes too tall. He’s hit his head a few times walking through doorways, and hotel beds are typically too short and his feet dangle over the end of the mattress. He wears a size 15 shoe, has an inseam of 41 inches and he said through much of the trial and tribulations of being a large person there is one time that sort of stands out. While about to undergo surgery for the first time he soon noticed something was different.

“When they put me on the hospital gurney my legs were way too long and my feel hung off the end,” said Davis.

The last time he went through an extensive physical X-rays showed his growth plate was near maximum so he feels he won’t grow much taller. Davis is ok with that fact as buying clothes has been a problem for him for years. He has to purchase much of his wardrobe on line at American Tall and even purchases his shoes at special websites.

Davis and his mother and brother moved to Madison when Davis was a freshman. His mother, Traci Davis, is tall at 5-foot-11, his brother is 6-2 and even his father stands 6-5. He began playing sports in football before switching strictly to basketball by the time he was in the eighth grade. He was also the biggest child wherever he went, but there was one place his size wasn’t a factor at what he did- the school band.

“I began playing the clarinet and was in the school band for a short time before choosing to play sports fulltime,” said Davis, who claimed he can still “make some noise on the clarinet.”

He’s a co-captain for the Jets who are working their way through the season trying to find their identity on the court since losing every starter and 12 seniors off last year’s squad. First-year head coach Frankie Sullivan looks to Davis to sure-up his area of the court and be a team leader as ‘Big Country.’

In the meantime, Davis thinks of those months of recuperation from his surgeries and having to pass by his favorite foods day after day, but he knows to make it through those struggles he had to be strong…and not just physically.

“I firmly believe you can lose weight- it’s a mindset,” added Davis.