ROCHESTER, Mich. – Announced on social media on Sunday, March 19, Butler Bulldogs transfer guard Madison Royal-Davis has signed with Oakland University and will begin competing for the Golden Grizzlies in the 2023-24 season.
A native of the Buckeye State, Royal-Davis played her first two seasons of prep basketball for Toledo Rogers, helping the Rams win back-to-back Division II Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Championships in 2018 and 2019, before transferring to the Toledo Christian Eagles to round out her high school career.
During these four years, she tallied 2,265 points, making her the all-time leading scorer in Toledo area girls' basketball history and the first Ohio high school girls player to reach 1,000 points at two different schools.
Averaging 28 points and nine rebounds as a junior in 2019-20 and 25.7 points, eight rebounds, 7.5 assists and six steals as a senior for Toledo Christian, she won consecutive Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) Division IV Player of the Year Awards with the Eagles and committed to Butler on September 17, 2020, announcing her decision on CBS-affiliated WTOL in Toledo.
During her two seasons in the Big East Conference with the Bulldogs, Royal-Davis played for a pair of head coaches, Kurt Godlevske as a freshman and Austin Parkinson, whose name is likely familiar to Horizon League fan as he spent 12 years leading the IUPUI Jaguars from 2010-22, as a sophomore in 2022-23.
Appearing in 10 games over these two campaigns, she recorded two points, three steals, a rebound and a block in 19 minutes, but as a 5-foot-11 fierce defender with two years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility remaining, Royal-Davis has the opportunity to come in and make a big impact for Oakland in 2023-24.
"Madison is a player that fits our system perfectly," said Golden Grizzlies head coach
Jeff Tungate, who is entering his 11
th season.
"She is a very good defender who can really get to the rim offensively. She loves to play up-tempo basketball and will be outstanding in our press. She loves the game and has a very good basketball IQ. We are really excited to have her join the Oakland family."
Earning the 8-seed in the 2023 Barbasol Shave Horizon League Women's Basketball Tournament, Oakland wrapped up their 2022-23 season at 13-17 (8-12).
Looking ahead to 2023-24, Royal-Davis joins a talented cast of returners featuring Horizon League Freshman of the Year point guard
Brooke Quarles-Daniels, juniors
Alexis Johnson and
Linda van Schaik, sophomore
Kennedie Montue and fellow freshman
Cam Grant.
