SHOWSTOPPER—Pioneer forward Jonathan Davis can electrify a crowd with his moves. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers Jonathan Davis sits in a quiet Simi Valley High gym, talking about hoops, music and the future.

Teammate CJ Faulwell, the only other person in the gym, is checking messages on his phone.

Other students who just finished their last final on Friday scatter like leaves in a gust of wind. A few stop to crane their necks and peer inside, but they scamper away.

Rain methodically taps on the roof.

If it’s opportunity knocking, Davis is answering.

“Jonathan has had to carry a lot of the load,” Simi Valley boys’ basketball head coach Christian Aurand said.

“He’s taking the lead. He has to put our team on his back on both ends of the floor.”

Davis didn’t ask for all this responsibility. But it’s his regardless.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS—Simi Valley High’s Jonathan Davis is listed as 6-foot-7 and 185 pounds. The talented post player leads SVHS in points (17.3), rebounds (10.4) and blocks (two) per game. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers He’s not the heart of this team. That would be Faulwell.

He’s not the most experienced player. Danny Cox, who shares the captaincy with Faulwell, and Grant Keller are four-year varsity players.

Davis is the one Pioneer who has the talent and size to be a superstar, and he’s starting to embrace the role.

Davis enjoyed one of his best games of the season against Calabasas last weekend.

The 6-foot-7 junior had 30 points and 12 rebounds in a close loss to the Coyotes, who control first place in the Marmonte League.

For Davis, it still isn’t enough.

“Individually, I’ve been pretty good. But I want to win,” the 17-year-old said. “To be a good player, you need to win.”

Simi Valley hasn’t enjoyed the on-court success of recent Pioneer teams.

SVHS is 12-9 overall and 5-4 in the Marmonte. The Pioneers even suffered a rare loss to Royal, a shocking 59-50 setback on Dec. 15.

“It’s not what we thought it was going to be like,” Davis said of the season. “It’s been a little disappointing.”

The junior, who grew up handling the ball playing guard, has added a post game to his offensive repertoire.

He is working on his back-tothe-basket moves and finishing after contact. He can score in a variety of ways—from jump hooks to driving layups to jumpers—and he also rebounds, passes and blocks shots efficiently.

Entering tonight’s game at Thousand Oaks, Davis is averaging 17.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, two blocks and 1.4 steals per game for the Pioneers.

Although he’s just as high profile as Jordan Coleman of Calabasas or Thousand Oaks’ Alex Tiffin—both will play Division I college hoops next year at Hawaii and UC Davis, respectively—Davis remains humble and gracious.

“He’s very level-headed,” Faulwell said of his teammate. “A lot of guys with his talent, their heads are up in the clouds and they’re cocky. All this attention doesn’t change him at all.

“He’s a very dynamic player. He’s been very good and he’s getting better. Stay tuned next year. You’ll see some unbelievable things from him. I’m fully confident in him.”

Davis had a rough start to his high school playing career.

He missed all but six games during his freshman year to a torn growth plate in his knee. The Pioneer suffered the injury during a summer tournament at Las Vegas—he had to be driven home the next day at 4 a.m. to have surgery.

As a sophomore, Davis was a sidekick to Brad Lewis, now a walk-on at UC Santa Barbara.

This year, Davis has taken over.

The Pioneer, who eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before each game, talked with Lewis several times during the preseason about what it means to be a leader.

“I had to learn how to lead the team,” Davis said.

“I had a conversation with Brad Lewis on how to take over. He was unbelievable. He’d score at will. I asked him, ‘How do you do that?’ He said, ‘You need to take over—it will come.’ He’s a good mentor.”

Despite his modest nature, the junior knows he has to get better. He wants to play more physically, gain strength and finish with more authority after contact.

Part of his new role is rolling with the punches, literally and figuratively.

Simi Valley has played most of the season without Cox, a seasoned veteran, who is just now easing his way onto the court after suffering an injury. Keller played with a dislocated finger for most of the Royal game.

In a fluke accident Jan. 13, Davis and Faulwell bumped heads chasing a loose ball against Westlake.

Davis had a black eye from the crash. Faulwell—who suffered a concussion on the play— had to go to Simi Valley Hospital and get stitches.

But the future looks bright for Davis.

He has attracted interest from many universities, including Utah. Gonzaga, Arizona State, Pepperdine and UNLV have also contacted Davis about playing college hoops.

“I think he’s going to be a heck of a player at the next level,” Aurand said. “He’s just now feeling more comfortable in his own shoes. He’s being more selfish as a player—which is a good thing. If it’s good for the team, it’s okay.”

Davis knows how to balance basketball with the rest of his life

He said his best friend is his little brother, Mykel, a freshman at SVHS who plans on playing baseball.

The Pioneer enjoys jam sessions with his dad. Davis plays the drums while his father, Curtis, grooves on electric bass.

Davis would also like to combine his love of sports with writing. Don’t be surprised to find him on ESPN, from the hardwood to the studio.

The Pioneer’s love of basketball started early.

When he was 8, Davis attended a summer camp at SVHS led by none other than Aurand. The youngster won a one-on-one tournament against the other campers.

His prize? A pair of Simi Valley High shorts. As a reminder of how he fell in love with the game, the shorts are safely tucked away at home.

“I still remember that,” Davis said. “It was the best. I wanted those Simi shorts so bad. I think I wore those shorts for three days straight.

“That was the greatest day of my life.”

For Simi Valley’s big man, the best has yet to come.