BECKLEY — Noah Cottrill is a shooter.

No doubt, the state player of the year from Class AAA champion Logan also excels at the other aspects of the sport — dribbling, passing and, yes, playing defense.

Simply put, he is a complete player.

Stands to reason, as a West Virginia University signee.

But shooting is what he does best.

He made 114 threes this past season.

But, if a shooter is like a fisherman, Cottrill remembers the one that got away.

It was in the Big Atlantic Classic.

It was against Capital. Sure, he put up the points — 22 to be exact — but he had zero threes.

What’s the big deal?

Cottrill will be back at the site — the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center — Friday night as a member of the Class AAA all-stars who will be taking on their Class AA-A counterparts at 7 p.m. in the Scott Brown Memorial Classic, sponsored by Little General Stores and Beckley Newspapers.

The game tips at 7 p.m. A three-point shootout and slam dunk contest will start at 6:30 p.m. There is an 11-year-old AAU game that tips at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the convention center Friday.

“I played great there as a junior (at Mountain State Academy). I had a game of 30, had 28 against Oak Hill (Academy),” Cottrill said. “But this year it was like it haunted me.

“I had zero threes (against Capital). I made one against Morgantown. I just didn’t shoot well. That was the first time I have never made a three in a game since I started playing on an 8-foot rim when I was 4 years old.

“Hopefully, I will get that turned around on Friday.”

That is the perfectionist that is Noah Cottrill, who is a marked man every time he goes out on the court.

He knows it. And even relishes the role. Partly, it’s because he is typically the best player on the court. Partly it’s because he made his intentions to go to WVU as a freshman.

“Yeah, I guess my opponents don’t like me and I don’t like my opponents,” Cottrill said. “When we’re on the floor it’s all business and we’re getting ready to work. But off the court it’s different. I’m friends with just about all the players I go against, all over the state.”

One of his opponents Friday will be Mountain State Academy’s David Nyarsuk, who will be his teammate at WVU.

MSA beat Logan in a game earlier this season and Cottrill said he would like to beat his future teammate, a native of Africa, before they arrive in Morgantown.

“And when I do, I’m going to learn his language and tell him in his native tongue, ‘I beat you,’” Cottrill said. “He’s a great kid. Always smiling.”

Cottrill is looking forward to playing at West Virginia, saying that Mountaineer Madness will be like a dream come true.

“To put on that jersey, run out on that carpet, see those people and hear them say ‘Noah Cottrill’ ... I’ve never been so excited about something in my life,” he said.

He is also looking forward to playing for WVU coach Bob Huggins, a man with as big a sense of humor as his future guard.

For now.

Everyone has heard about the infamous treadmill, a punishment for a screw-up in practice.

But Cottrill said there is also a tire flip. You miss class, you flip the tire down a field 200 yards. Second offense is 400, then 800 and on.

“I’m not a morning person,” Cottrill joked. “Coach Huggins said he didn’t think it would be possible to flip a tire from Morgantown to Charleston. Then I realized he was talking about me.”

Cottrill also dispelled a story that said he didn’t enjoy his time at MSA last year.

“It was one of the best years of my life,” he said. “I met my girlfriend there and her family is just great to me. I met some awesome people, Dr. (Jill) Hopkins and Todd Cornett. And coach Rob Fulford. The classes were small, but you get a lot of one-on-one attention. For anybody struggling with academics, I would recommend it.”

As for Friday?

“I’m betting that I can make a three,” he said.

— E-mail: demorrison@register-herald.com