Noah Davis: Mr. Big Shot in Forest Lake

Noah Davis is breaking both basketball records and stereotypes at Forest Lake High School this winter.

At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Davis has the build of a post or paint player. Or maybe even a football player.

"He looks like an offensive lineman," coach Dan Cremisino said. "But he's an unbelievable shooter. He loves the three-point arc."

The senior specimen is a pure shooter, averaging just more than 20 points per game to lead the Suburban East Conference. And at his size, he can simply shoot it over people.

"He's a fun player to watch," Cremisino said. "Boy, can he shoot it. He can really shoot the basketball."

His play is earning himself a spot in his school's record books.

At the very least, Davis, with 454 points through Tuesday, will finish no lower than No. 3 in Rangers' single- season scoring history. He most likely end up fifth or sixth, based on how he has been playing.

"He's put up big numbers against good teams — and teams that are trying to stop him, too," Cremisino said.

Davis is shooting about 87 percent from the free-throw line. He also will break the Rangers' record for three-pointers in a single season.

Making the school's record books is "definitely cool," Davis said. "It's nice just to be a part of something like that."

As a junior, Davis was averaging about 15 points per game and led his team in scoring. But he also battled injuries, including two sprained ankles, much of the season. One of those sprained ankles forced him to sit out the final stretch of games.

As a freshman, he was the first player Cremisino had ever called up to play with the junior varsity and varsity squads. His shooting had something to do with that, but his size was also intriguing.

His dominant play is drawing interest from some junior colleges and also teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It's definitely a goal of his to continue his career next year.

Forest Lake was just 6-11 and 10-15 overall through Tuesday's 56-55 victory against Mounds View. That doesn't entirely reflect the team's abilities.

"Our record could easily be reversed if we could finish some close games," said Davis, who scored 22 points Tuesday.

The Rangers have lost six games at the buzzer, including two heartbreakers to Woodbury, two to East Ridge and another to Cretin-Derham Hall.

Forest Lake still believes it could make a run in its section. Players feel they can definitely work their way to the finals, but they will need their big man to go through teams such as Duluth East, St. Francis, Blaine, Andover, Anoka and Cambridge.