February. 11th 2022, I was sitting behind the bench at Jefferson Community College in Watertown with my Watertown high school JV basketball team. We were waiting for varsity to come down from the upstairs locker room for the Frontier League boys basketball championship. I had just come back from the concession stand, popcorn still warm in my hands, when the gym started to pick up, the kind of energy that builds right before tip-off.
Joel Davis stepped on the floor.
I have now seen him play for many years, but this game still stands out in my mind. He controlled the game from the start, finishing with 21 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists. By the final buzzer, Watertown had beaten the Carthage Comets.
Looking back on it now, it feels like a moment that summed up everything Joel had been building toward.
Joel started his career at Watertown high school as a traditional big man, with the majority of his work being in the paint. He built his game on rebounding, physicality, and scoring around the rim. A lot of his impact came from second-chance points and controlling the boards. Every now and then he would throw down a flashy dunk that sent the crowd roaring.
During his senior season in 2021-22, that role showed consistently. He had 18 points and 13 rebounds against Indian River and led Watertown with 15 points against Whitesboro, most of it coming from around the rim He was a three-year starter and part of those three straight Frontier League championship teams.
I remember watching some of those games when I was younger, sitting along the bench while Eric Schofield—then head coach of the JV team—coached from the sideline.
“Joel Davis had a strong desire to win,” my dad said. “This was evident in him never missing a practice and giving 100% during practice.”
Even early on, my dad noticed signs of what he would become.
“One specific trait of Joel that stood out at a young age was his raw potential,” my dad said about Joel. “He seemed to have all the tools to become a very good player, but they just needed to be refined.”
Joel’s potential started showing up in games sooner than expected.
“Joel worked hard at his craft throughout the season and ended up becoming one of the most skilled players in our league,” my dad recalled “He also grew a few inches and worked on his conditioning a lot, so this also made him a much more valuable asset on the court.”
At the time, I didn’t think much of where it could all lead.
After graduating, Joel took the JUCO route, going to Tompkins Cortland Community College. There, Davis would face the toughest competition yet. The adjustment was immediate.
“JUCO basketball prepared me physically by forcing me to compete against older, stronger players,” Davis said. “I was 18 playing against grown men, some as old as 25 or 26. That pushed me to become more physical and tougher.”
The mental side was just as challenging.
“Mentally, JUCO was very tough,” Davis said. “Not many players make it out to the next level. It can be draining and stressful, but that pressure helps build mental toughness.”
That experience showed in his production. During the 2022–23 season, he averaged 17.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, earning all-conference recognition. At the same time, his body and role were changing.
“I lost around 30 pounds from high school,” Davis said. “That helped me get into better shape and transition into more of a big forward role.”
When Davis transferred to SUNY Cortland, his role evolved again. During the 2024–25 season, he averaged 10.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while adding 40 blocks and 29 steals.
At this level, the greatest change has been how Joel sees the game.
“The biggest adjustment was improving my basketball IQ,” Davis said. “Understanding defensive gaps, rotations, positioning, and offensive movement, learning how the game flows, that’s been key.”
Joel’s performances in the 2024-25 season reflected that growth, including 25 points and 10 rebounds against New Paltz, 20 and 10 against Buffalo State, and 18 points with 16 rebounds against Potsdam. Over one stretch, he averaged 19 points and over 10 rebounds per game, earning SUNYAC Athlete of the Week honors.
Most recently during the 2025-26 season, Joel stayed efficient throughout the season with performances such as 23 points and 11 rebounds against Potsdam, 21 points against Morrisville and he led the team in steals with 32 in total. Most importantly, he was awarded the 2025-26 SUNYAC Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year.
Starting in high school, Joel showed real talent, but according to former teammate Seth Charlton, now a player on the men’s basketball team at SUNY Brockport, consistency and habits were still areas that needed growth.
“To be completely honest because I love Joel, he didn’t always approach things with the level of urgency he has now,” Charlton said.
That shifted as he moved into college, where his work ethic began to separate him.
“Now in college, we’ve done private workouts together and we’ve done sprints outside of workouts,” said Charlton. “He lifts everyday, he’s putting in that extra time to now become where he’s gotten to.”
The results have followed the work.
“He’s won DPOY and that’s just what paid off from him doing the extra work,” Charlton said. “He’s an all around great guy and a hell of a basketball player.”
Some of Joel’s favorite memories still go back to high school.
“My favorite memory was hitting seven three-pointers in one half,” Davis said. “After that, I got moved up to varsity the next game, and in my first varsity game I scored 15 points.”
Looking ahead, Joel is focused on what comes next.
“It really depends on how my next season goes,” he said. “If I have the kind of year I expect from myself, I believe I can move on and play at a higher level.”
The type of confidence and motivation Joel has is special.
Through it all, one person has had the biggest impact.
“My father [Rob Davis] had the biggest influence on my basketball journey,” Davis said. “He always pushed me to work harder, even when I didn’t feel like it. Without his support, I don’t think I’d still be playing today.”
Seeing Joel play at SUNY Cortland feels special because I didn’t just start watching at this level. I’ve seen where it started. Back when I was younger, sitting on the bench at Watertown, it was just another game to me. Now, watching Joel do the same things in a college uniform, it’s easier to recognize how much went into getting here.
The biggest difference isn’t who he is as a player. It’s how much more complete he’s become.