‘Eight Nations’ featuring former UD basketball star premiers at The Neon

Taylor Robertson gives her review of ‘Eight Nations’ which premiered on Sept. 25 at the Neon during the 2021 Dayton Independent Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Dayton Daily News.

Taylor Robertson | Assistant Sports Editor

If you missed the premiere of the new film by David Parfitt titled, ‘Eight Nations[MOU1] ,’ co-starring Dayton basketball star, Kyle Davis, here is what you missed.

This documentary follows the lives of professional basketball players competing in the Eight Nations tournament. The film highlights the story of UD alumni Davis who Flyer fans may remember as a star basketball player at Dayton from 2013 to 2017. The most incredible take away with this film is how relatable the player’s stories were.

It is easy to get caught up in how well the athletes perform at practice and on the big stage, that what they have gone through to get to where they are is often overshadowed. My eyes were glued to the screen as I realized I understood this concept all too well.

Working in sports media, I get the opportunity to interview athletes like Davis and hear first-hand how dedicated they are to success, no matter the circumstances.

Throughout the film you learn that Davis did not grow up being fed with a silver spoon. Materialism was not what got Davis to where he is now; the constant support from his family and friends is what helped lead him to success. 

This documentary was one of those films that made you want to fulfill your dreams once you left the theatre. It gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices professional athletes make.

Once the lights came on in the theater, the fans who attended were more than excited to hear what Kyle who was also present at the premier had to say. I was prepared to ask Kyle questions about what filming for the movie entailed, or what it was like to see himself on the big screen.

The audience had other questions in mind. They wanted to know how much Kyle missed Dayton and if he would ever possibly return. No promises were made, but Kyle did state that he would love to be involved with University of Dayton in the future one day.

This whole experience was really refreshing for me to witness. It is clear that once you are a part of the community at Dayton, it never goes away. I was reminded that even some of the best athletes in the world struggle sometimes too.

At the end of the day it all depends on how bad you want something. How willing you are to shut down the excuses and get to work.

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