Trent Noah (2) has had a lot to celebrate this year. (Les Nicholson Photo)
Kyle Jones knows he’s a big biased but the Harlan County coach says while senior Trent Noah is arguably one of the top three players in Kentucky, he puts him No. 1.
“I am going to say he is the best player,” the coach said. “He’s a 6-7 kid who scores at all three levels. He’s super unselfish. He lets the game come to him. He just makes everyone better on the floor.”
Noah, a South Carolina signee and top 150 player nationally, is averaging 29.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the 13th Region champion going into Thursday’s state tournament game against defending state champion Warren Central. He’s shooting 56 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 89 percent at the foul line.
“I have been going to the state since I was a young child with my dad and family. I am really excited for our kids (who are going to Rupp Arena for the first time to play),” Jones said. “It means so much for eastern Kentucky kids. These kids are super excited and that’s all they have talked about.
“We lost to Pikeville and Frederick Douglass back to back (earlier in the season) and that was a reality check for us. We are not a one-man team and we have a lot of mountain pride.
Warren East coach George Unseld is a Noah fan and calls him a special talent.
“With his size and the way he shoots the ball, he is a heck of a player,” Unseld said. “He is a good athlete but is a great player. He can dribble, shoot and pass. He is super versatile.
“It’s a hard matchup but there are not many 6-7, 210-pound guards in Kentucky. He puts pressure on you but it is hard to key on him because the other guys can make shots and beat you.”
Noah broke former Mr. Basketball Charles Thomas’ county scoring record of 3,365 points in late February and is the 13th Region’s second all-time leading scorer behind Reed Sheppard. He has scored 1,038 points this season going into the state tournament game.
Noah guided the Black Bears to a 31-4 record and an 18-0 mark against 13th Region teams.
* * *
Pulaski County was not one of the preseason favorites to win the 12th Region title that it won in 2023. However, that only motivated the Maroons who will play Trinity Thursday night in the state tournament in Rupp Arena.
“We only return one player who really got to play last year,” Pulaski coach John Fraley said. “They (other players) have been there so it will not be quite the culture shock.
“Our rallying cry all year was we were picked seventh in the region. We have graduated a lot of kids the last two years who have gone on to play college ball. They won 27 or 28 at the JV level last year and it is a group that has played together. We were able to win games people did not think we could win and we were able to get on a run in the region. It has been fun.”
5 Responses
LV, thanks for all the write-ups about the Sweet Sixteen. I enjoy reading them and finding out things about the teams.
I appreciate your time on this.
thank you OldFan. I really enjoy being here
Kentucky dropped the ball by not getting this boy. He would be a great back up for 2 year then he could be dominant his junior and senior year. That’s what keeps Kentucky from being great the name on the front of the jersey doesn’t mean as much to most players that come.
Sounds like a kid who should be wearing the blue and white, instead of going to SC.
UK missed on this kid.