Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Getting to know MT newcomer Donovan Sims
8/23/2017 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Murfreesboro product is no stranger to the Murphy Center
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Most of Middle Tennessee's basketball newcomers weren't granted the opportunity to spend a lot of time on campus or in the City of Murfreesboro before they arrived as a student-athlete. Freshman Donovan Sims is different.
Sims moved to the 'Boro when he was 3 and spent a lot of time running around the campus and playing ball at the Campus Recreation Center. He considers MT a second home, and didn't really even think of continuing his playing career anywhere else.
"The recruiting process for me was pretty easy," he said. "Being from Murfreesboro, I grew up around here. My sisters were cheerleaders here, so I used to come to a lot of games and I've spent a lot of time here."
Before becoming a Blue Raider, Sims starred at Murfreesboro's Blackman High School and gained valuable experience playing deep into the TSSAA tournament in all four of his years. He even got to play on the state's biggest stage inside Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center.
As a freshman, the Blaze took home the Class AAA state title on MT's home court, and they followed with two state semifinal appearances – also in the Murphy Center – and a sectional berth when he was a senior.
Sims helped lead the team to a 33-1 record as a first-year starter when he was a junior, and as a senior upped his averages to 10 points, five rebounds and five assists per game while Blackman finished with a 26-5 record.
While he was helping the Blaze to a combined 112-18 record (42-6 in District 7-AAA) in four years, MT head coach Kermit Davis and assistant coach Win Case kept in constant contact with Sims. He also became friends with one of the Blue Raiders' best players.
"I've known Giddy [Potts] since my sophomore year of high school, and he's always been there in my ear helping me grow as a player," Sims said. "Coach Davis and Coach Case watched me grow up, basically, so once they offered me it was a pretty easy decision."
Middle Tennessee may be guard-loaded this season with Potts, sophomore Tyrik Dixon, senior Ed Simpson, junior Antwain Johnson and others returning, but Sims can bring court awareness beyond his years and a passing ability that was unmatched in the mid-state as a high schooler.
Really, he just wants to do whatever is necessary to make his team successful, whether that means he scores 20 points or zero.
"I like to pass, and I can hit open shots when I need to," he said. "My teammates make me look good when they're in the right places and all I have to do is get the ball to them."
Standing just 6-feet tall and weighing only 165 pounds, Sims certainly won't be the biggest guy on the floor in any collegiate game he plays. However, he's learned how to use his small frame to his advantage.
"It's a mindset," he said. "A lot of people will underestimate you when you're my size, so you have to use it as an advantage and come out with the right mindset. I'm pretty quick, too."
Sims hopes to give the Blue Raiders yet another dependable guard as they try to make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row in 2018.
No matter what kind of success he has at Middle Tennessee, he'll always play with his hometown in the stands and in his heart.
"The Murfreesboro community, my family, the Blackman community and my high school coaches have really helped, and it means a lot," Sims said. "They really got me here, and I hope I can help show what Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee are all about."
Sims moved to the 'Boro when he was 3 and spent a lot of time running around the campus and playing ball at the Campus Recreation Center. He considers MT a second home, and didn't really even think of continuing his playing career anywhere else.
"The recruiting process for me was pretty easy," he said. "Being from Murfreesboro, I grew up around here. My sisters were cheerleaders here, so I used to come to a lot of games and I've spent a lot of time here."
Before becoming a Blue Raider, Sims starred at Murfreesboro's Blackman High School and gained valuable experience playing deep into the TSSAA tournament in all four of his years. He even got to play on the state's biggest stage inside Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center.
As a freshman, the Blaze took home the Class AAA state title on MT's home court, and they followed with two state semifinal appearances – also in the Murphy Center – and a sectional berth when he was a senior.
Sims helped lead the team to a 33-1 record as a first-year starter when he was a junior, and as a senior upped his averages to 10 points, five rebounds and five assists per game while Blackman finished with a 26-5 record.
While he was helping the Blaze to a combined 112-18 record (42-6 in District 7-AAA) in four years, MT head coach Kermit Davis and assistant coach Win Case kept in constant contact with Sims. He also became friends with one of the Blue Raiders' best players.
"I've known Giddy [Potts] since my sophomore year of high school, and he's always been there in my ear helping me grow as a player," Sims said. "Coach Davis and Coach Case watched me grow up, basically, so once they offered me it was a pretty easy decision."
Middle Tennessee may be guard-loaded this season with Potts, sophomore Tyrik Dixon, senior Ed Simpson, junior Antwain Johnson and others returning, but Sims can bring court awareness beyond his years and a passing ability that was unmatched in the mid-state as a high schooler.
Really, he just wants to do whatever is necessary to make his team successful, whether that means he scores 20 points or zero.
"I like to pass, and I can hit open shots when I need to," he said. "My teammates make me look good when they're in the right places and all I have to do is get the ball to them."
Standing just 6-feet tall and weighing only 165 pounds, Sims certainly won't be the biggest guy on the floor in any collegiate game he plays. However, he's learned how to use his small frame to his advantage.
"It's a mindset," he said. "A lot of people will underestimate you when you're my size, so you have to use it as an advantage and come out with the right mindset. I'm pretty quick, too."
Sims hopes to give the Blue Raiders yet another dependable guard as they try to make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row in 2018.
No matter what kind of success he has at Middle Tennessee, he'll always play with his hometown in the stands and in his heart.
"The Murfreesboro community, my family, the Blackman community and my high school coaches have really helped, and it means a lot," Sims said. "They really got me here, and I hope I can help show what Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee are all about."
Players Mentioned
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