Warren freshman Jaxson Davis won’t sneak up on anyone this season.

That’s what happens when a national ranking in your class and years of hype-generating play on the travel circuit accompany you to local gyms.

“I don’t really feel pressure because I’m used to having a lot of eyes on me,” Davis said. “I know there’s always someone in the stands who has never seen me play. But knowing I’ll always be the youngest player on the court, I feel I have to prove I belong.”

Davis has already proved that in just five games in a Warren uniform.

At the Grant-Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament last week, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 steals for Warren (4-1) to earn all-tournament honors.

Davis then recorded 17 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals apiece in the Blue Devils’ impressive 56-42 road win at New Trier on Tuesday.

“His handprints are all over a game because he impacts things from a number of different standpoints,” Warren coach Zack Ryan said. “I’ve never coached anyone who has a better feel or sense for the game as him. If you were to walk in and see us play, you obviously wouldn’t know he was a freshman.”

Indeed, from a purely basketball standpoint, Davis has thrived competing against older players for many years.

One reason for that is obvious: Davis’ scoring ability is remarkable. He has already scored at least 20 points twice. But he also knows when he shouldn’t force the issue.

“I can usually get to the basket,” he said. “But a lot of times guys are bigger than me down there. So with two or three players collapsing on me, I need to find the open teammate.”

Davis’ court vision is special, according to his father, Brian, a longtime AAU and youth coach who played football at Illinois and is an assistant under Ryan.

“He has a knack of seeing something two or three passes ahead,” Brian Davis said. “He always makes the right play, and nothing fazes him. To fully appreciate his game, you have to watch him play a couple of times.”

Jaxson Davis arrived at Warren so game-ready that Ryan has undertaken a unique endeavor, attempting to mold a freshman into a leader on a team with returning varsity players like senior guard Josh Stewart, senior forward Alex Daniels and junior guard Javerion Banks.

“We’re not really even working with him on shooting and dribbling,” Ryan said of Davis. “It’s other stuff like being more vocal.”

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Davis has taken this task to heart, which has a lot to do with his competitive fire.

“He doesn’t like to lose,” Brian Davis said. “He’s wound differently that way. If you’re not doing your job, he’ll get after you.”

But Jaxson Davis is cognizant of keeping those interactions positive, no matter the context.

“I’ve tried to keep teammates focused in practice and not let them space out,” he said. “And if something goes wrong, I’m lifting guys up. I think about, ‘What am I going to do?’”

Davis is focused on winning, which Warren looks likely to do quite a bit this season.

“Even if my shot’s not falling or I turn the ball over, if my team wins, that’s all that matters,” he said. “If I don’t play well and we lose, that’s really not good.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.