It comes as no surprise that UTRGV senior guard Javon Levi is a Player of the Year candidate. The reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year is going to set some records in 2020-21. Levi ranks second in program history in steals and fourth in total assists. In the WAC ranks, Levi is 16th in WAC history and second among teams still in the WAC in total assists. Levi is also 11th in WAC history and third among teams still in the WAC in total steals.
Known as the ‘Man of Steel’ by the UTRGV nation, Levi has won back-to-back WAC Defensive Player of the Year awards. And, in 2019-20, was named a Defensive All-American by Lefty Driesell.
Levi is one of four players returning with 400-plus assists in the last two seasons. For his career, Levi has 524 assists.
MID-MAJOR MONDAY 5’11 Jr G Javon Levi out of UTRGV is ELECTRIC. The Killeen, TX native averaged 11.4 PPG 3.3 RPG 8.0 APG (2nd in NCAA) 2.4 SPG (11th in NCAA) this past season while also being named to the All-WAC Second Team and WAC DPOY. SERIOUS NBA POTENTIAL ?? @_yunglevid1 pic.twitter.com/ZBaUnSDSRJ
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) September 7, 2020
Some people even believe that Levi is one of the most, if not the most, underrated players in college basketball.
MID-MAJOR MONDAY 5’11 Jr G Javon Levi out of UTRGV is ELECTRIC. The Killeen, TX native averaged 11.4 PPG 3.3 RPG 8.0 APG (2nd in NCAA) 2.4 SPG (11th in NCAA) this past season while also being named to the All-WAC Second Team and WAC DPOY. SERIOUS NBA POTENTIAL ?? @_yunglevid1 pic.twitter.com/ZBaUnSDSRJ
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) September 7, 2020
Head Coach Lew Hill on Levi
“Maturity,” Hill said. “He’s taken on the leadership roll, communicating with everyone, pumping everyone up, getting on people when they need to be. Javon is THE leader. He’s THE guy. He feels like ‘we go as I go’, which when you’re a senior, that’s what you want.”
The Leader
Levi has started 85 of a possible 92 games played since coming to Edinburg in 2017. During his freshman season, Levi started 23 of 30 games. Levi missed five games at the beginning of the 2019-20 season while battling an injury. The senior from Killeen, Texas has been a catalyst in helping UTRGV increase its win total each season.
The exception was the 2019-20 season. However, UTRGV went on to win eight of its final 10 games to secure its highest-ever finish in the WAC standings.
In perhaps his best performance of the 2019-20 season, Javon Levi had a career-high 25 points with four assists and three steals to help UTRGV beat Grand Canyon at GCU Arena on Feb. 29, 2020. It was the first win at GCU for the Vaqueros since joining the WAC in the 2013-14 season.
Last season, UTRGV guard Javon Levi finished second nationally in steals. Reigning WAC Defensive POY was D1 assist leader late into this season. My column on country’s top defender/distributor. pic.twitter.com/d70iDH0fvA
— Joshua Parrott (@JoshuaParrott) March 22, 2020
The season starts quickly for UTRGV. Levi and the Vaqueros take on Big 12 foe Texas in Austin on Nov. 25. UTRGV also has a non-conference game scheduled at Texas A&M in December. With his goal to be a mid-major All-American, Javon Levi has the leadership skills and necessary tools to leave his mark on the WAC and the nation.
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