Les Nicholson Photo
After Harlan County guard Trent Noah scored 48 points to help his team overcome a 16-point deficit and beat Campbell County in the state tournament quarterfinals, losing coach Brent Sowder didn’t hold back in his praise of Noah.
“I’ve been coming to the state tournament my whole life. I’ve watched Chris Lofton … Richie Farmer, Allan Houston, going all the way back there. He (Noah) became a legend tonight — a Sweet 16 legend,” Sowder said.
Now he’s even more of a mountain legend after the one-time South Carolina commit changed and signed with Kentucky and new coach Mark Pope Wednesday.
“Trent Noah is one of the elite shooters in this class,” Pope said in a release from UK. “He is a tough, hard-nosed player with a special physicality. As an eastern Kentucky native, Trent will bring a grit, toughness, and determination to the program that is representative of this state. We’re looking forward to Trent joining this talented group.”
The 6-6 Noah was sensational in the state tournament. He hit 19 3-pointers to break the previous record set by former Mason County/Tennessee star Chris Lofton. He had 129 points in four games, including 17 in the title game loss to Lyon County and UK signee Travis Perry. Still, Harlan County became the first eastern Kentucky team to reach the title game in 13 years.
Noah averaged 29.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season when he shot 56 percent overall from the field, 43 percent from 3 (he made 102 threes) and 89 percent at the foul line.
He ended his career with 3,707 points, the fifth-best mark in state history.
Former Kentucky coach John Calipari did not offer Noah a scholarship and he signed with South Carolina in November. However, he backed out of his commitment and got his release from South Carolina this week. It didn’t take long for the Kentucky/Noah connection to come together and now Noah, the grandson of former UK football player Charles “Perky” Bryant, is Big Blue bound.
14 Responses
Amazing! The player. The events that took place to end up at UK. The 48 points in the KY HS Regional.
Pope has already brought prestige back to UK BB.
Trent Noah brings a “bit of grit” & skills of some former players all packaged into one…
• Larry Stamper style grit.
• Jarred Pricket style toughness & D (he shut down Alan Houston in Houston’s last game to about 6 points!).
• Kevin Grevey size & FG %
UK has resurfaced & is preparing for battle!
If I remember correctly Pitino “ broke even “ in his first year – let’s not life or death Coach Pope’s first year. It could prove to be a long one. Mixing in Mashburn ( following year )with his shooters proved to the catalyst.
I’m thrilled with his determination but you can’t just wave a magic wand when you’re starting from ground zero. PS – hope I’m wrong !
When slick Rick started with 0 it was Kentucky kids that got it going.
I hope we get all the Kentucky kids that can play on that level.
Pitino arrived with UK on a 2-year probation with a depleted roster at a time when it required an act of Congress (or connections to crooked ncaa cronies) to transfer.
The major difference is the Portal. The 14-14 season under Pitino was viewed by most as a successful start considering the virtually empty cupboard.
Yes, you are exactly right, Mashburn was the star who was a MAJOR factor in elevating UK to the top of the SEC the 2nd year, while still banned from the post-season.
The Portal has given Pope a vital means of filling in the gaps and once again it will be KY HS players on the UK roster which will be significant in the return of UK to the National scene.
There is no way to know what the outcome of this coming season will be. I am confident that we will win more than lose. I like the players Mark has signed. His offense is built around movement, screens, passing, and shooting. I doubt that we will see any of the one on one hero play that has plagued us in the past. He will demand effort on defense and will not be adverse to switching things up on that end. We have the size and bulk to defend and rebound. We have shooters. I think we have a coachable team that will play as a team and will come ready to compete every game. By the season’s end, regardless of our record, we should be a tough out come tourney time.
Maybe we really will be "Built for March"
I think you can expect about the same as he did last year. He has much more talent and experience this year. If we can get Jaxson Robinson or the other transfer we are pursuing we will be much better. I would still go after another post player and another true point guard. I don’t think Noah plays to much this year. Maybe they can redshift him and he can contribute more next year. With Kriisa, Brea, Oweh, Butler, Chandler, and Perry you have a stacked back court already. I wouldn’t waste a year on him sitting on the end of the bench. I think you can play 5 or 6 games in basketball and retain your redshirt. Maybe get him and Perry some playing time against weaker competition and see where they stand. It wouldn’t surprise me if he redshirts both of them but I see Perry playing before noah. We have alot of guys who have already played 4 years in college basketball. Its going to hard for these 2 to get some minutes in their first year. Chandler is much more athletic than Perry and Noah. Plus he’s 2 almost 3 years older than them as well. They still can’t even grow facial hair yet lol. I think Perry and Noah will be very good in there 3rd and 4th year in college. If they aren’t going to play much maybe 3-8 mpg redshirt them and get a much better junior and senior year out of them. At first I thought Pope would sign 11-12 guys now I think he signs 13 and Perry and Noah might be the 12th and 13th best on the team this year. I think a year of conditioning and practicing against bigger and faster players they will be very good as redshirt freshman with 4 years to log minutes. As of right now I see Kriisa, Brea, Oweh, Carr, Garrison starting. I think Butler backs up Kriisa but they will both get about 20 mpg. Chandler backing Brea up. Williams backing up Garrison and with another addition someone will be a backup too Carr. If we get Jaxson or the other transfer they will start and maybe Brea or Kriisa will be the 6th man. That would be 2 platoons for with Noah and Perry being the odd men out. I would add another 5th year point guard and save their eligibility for next year. But hey what do I know. I do think one of the two surprise alot of people but they will not play over guys who’ve already scored over 1,000 points and have 4 years experience already. You’d have to be crazy to believe that.
I was talking about Kentucky being about like how BYU was last year but probably a little better. More talent on this team.
If Pope’s first UK team will be stronger than his last BYU team, then
HIS FIRST UK TEAM WILL BE BETTER THAN THE FRAUD’S LAST 3 TEAMS.
The real comparison with real meaning, further proving the fraud did NOT fulfill the requirements of what he was paid for.
I agree.. I think uk beats Arkansas this year
Kentucky will beat Arkansas and Tennessee this year. Something dummy couldn’t figure out how to do. Our defense was like a AAU team last year. Not even a good high school defense.
Don’t know if we play the Hogs home and home or once ( where? ).
I do know a nice banner to hang in Rupp ( but only if we win ) – his recruiting pitch – KENTUCKY’S NOT FOR EVERYONE !!
Also, sadly he’ll have more experience on his first Arkansas team that he usually had @ UK.