David Baker is generally a laid-back guy, until he gets near the rim.
The 6-foot-6-inch senior leads Poland in dunks, but there is so much more to his game.
"To be a big man in this offense, you have to be able to run a lot," Baker said. "You have to have some guard skills and also some post up skills because you have to slow things down every once in a while. And get some easy buckets."
Baker has been the big man in the middle during the Bulldog's run to the Sweet 16. The forward has broken all of the school records for blocks in a game (8), season (73),
and career (172).
Baker is averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks a game while shooting 67 percent from the field.
Baker has earned All-Conference and All-NE Ohio Inland honors in both of his seasons as a starter, and he was a contributor on the 2007-08 Poland team which advanced to the State Tournament.
Baker is in charge of denying easy buckets at the other end. He's the key to the Bulldogs' defense, and is known for his blocks, which are like dunks.
"They're actually very similar," Baker said. "Both are big momentum swings, the crowd gets into it. And me being in the back of the press, I get a lot of opportunities to get them. Because I'm always left two on one or one on one."
Both Bakers' parents are local hall-of-famers in basketball. David Baker Sr. at Boardman and his mother, Ursula Baker, at Campbell, so athletics comes to Baker naturally.
Academics are the priority, however, and Baker is a 3.7 student as well as a member of National Honor Society.
"My mom, being a teacher, that helps a lot," Baker said. "My dad, being a great basketball player when he was younger, both it just helps. My dad's proud of what I do on the basketball court, my mom in the class room."
All of Poland should be proud of David Baker, who is our Student Athlete of the Week.
