Dalton’s Noah Khalid surpassed 2,000 career points in the NYSAIS ‘B’ Championship at the Spence Athletic Center on February 25. The senior entered the game against Stony Brook 12 points shy of the milestone. Dalton Boys Varsity Basketball lost 80-66, but Khalid delivered 25 to cap his Tigers career with an all-school record 2,013 points. 

“Going into the game, I tried not to focus on that and focus on the actual state championship game, which is really fun to play in,” Khalid said. “I think it’s just a testimony to all my teammates I’ve had and the coaching staff allowing me to have the green light and thrive the past four years.”

Khalid connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing in front of Dalton’s bench to reach 2,000 early in the fourth quarter.  

“Starting as a freshman was not something I thought was possible or was thinking about,” Khalid said. “Being a point guard and eventually turning into the leading scorer has been pretty cool. Our season showed how we’re such a great team and shared the ball, which allowed me to shoot as much as I did.” 

The Tigers finished 22-4 and 13-1 in the Ivy League, capturing their first conference title since 2019. Khalid topped Ryan Ewers’ previous Dalton boys record of 1,400 points early this season. Teddy Frischling ’89 coached both Khalid and Ewers ’02. 

“It’s an incredible accomplishment for Noah,” Frischling said. “I feel lucky as a coach that he trusted Dalton and trusted me. His brother (Ayden ’24) came before, so the relationship with Noah and the family isn’t new, but it was incredible to watch develop over the season. We thought it was a possibility but a huge stretch needing to up his average from 22 per game to 30 per game, and we would have had to go all the way in NYSAIS and we did.”

Khalid totaled 771 points as a senior with an average of 29.7 per game. The guard produced four 40-point games and 12 games of at least 30 points. Khalid also set the Boys Varsity Basketball single-game record with 49 points versus Avenues in the Dalton Invitational. 

“His freshman and sophomore year, I thought he deferred a lot,” Frischling said. “His junior year, he did what we asked him to do. Then this year, he took it to another level. For us to win, we needed others to step up, and he began to trust everybody else. Two thousand points in four years is just ridiculous, how skilled he was and how much work he put in.”

Frischling noted Khalid never missed a game, even when the point guard received 11 stitches in his hand. Opponents chased Khalid all over the court, but the senior’s added strength allowed him to absorb more contact and find openings in the defense. Khalid also credited his consistent practice approach and emphasis on simulating game moves. In addition to the record-setting Avenues contest, Khalid provided 43 points versus both Friends Seminary and Fieldston, and the senior scored 40 against Portledge.

“When I was in eighth grade, all I wanted to do was be a part of the Dalton basketball community and Dalton athletics community,” Khalid reflected. “To be able to thrive as well as I did, I know I was making my younger self proud. It was a fun experience and it went by so fast, but I’ll definitely come back and support Dalton.”

Frischling indicated Khalid’s presence was felt throughout The Dalton School.

“Noah has this kindness and attraction. There is this impact of a Noah effect. Dalton basketball was on the map, but he makes people talk about it. There’s an aura about Dalton basketball, and there’s an aura about Noah,” Frischling said.

Khalid will play a postgraduate season at The Newman School in Boston, Massachusetts before determining his college path.