Kevin Noreen is Mr. Basketball

So in six years of varsity basketball what has Kevin Noreen done? All time leading scorer in the state of Minnesota? Check. State Tournament? Check three times. State title? Check. Signed with a high major school? Check. Metro Player of the Year? Check. So what is left? Mr. Basketball? Aggressive bold black check mark can be put there too.

This afternoon on the behalf of the Mr. Basketball committee Ken Lien produced the following press release announcing Kevin as the 2010 recipient of the Mr. Basketball award:

"Minneapolis, MN - Ken Lien, Chairman, and his committee are pleased to announce that Kevin Noreen from Minnesota Transitions Charter has been named Mr. Basketball of Minnesota for 2010.

The 6-foot-10 power forward guided his team the 2010 Class A Championship and is statistically the most dominant player in the state. He has committed (and signed) to Boston College.

His all-around game has made him the state's all-time leading scorer, averages 38.6 points and 16.5 rebounds per game, plus 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.2 blocks.

The other Mr. Basketball Finalists were: Marshall Bjorklund from Sibley East, Trevor Gruis from Ellsworth, Dyami Starks from Duluth East, and Jacob Thomas from Columbia Heights."

Despite learning after the state championship game that he had a ruptured spleen from a fall early in Saturday's contest, Kevin still played the full 36 minutes scoring on 11 of 17 shot attempts for 24 points. Kevin also totaled 15 rebounds, nine blocks, and four assists against second place Sebeka.

Kevin was named to the all-state tournament team with that performance as well as the 22 points (9 of 17 shooting) and 22 rebounds against Cass Lake-Bena and the 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks against Rushford-Peterson.

Noreen finished his career with 4,086 points scored as he averaged 36.5 points in 33 games his senior year. Kevin surpassed the previous record total of 3,428 points that was held by current Augustana standout Cody Schilling who played at Ellsworth High School.

Kevin signed with Al Skinner and Boston College in the fall but Skinner was recently fired by the Eagles athletic department for his interest in other coaching positions.