South Carolina commit Trent Noah had the officials putting up the 3-point signal six times in Thursday’s win. (Les Nicholson Photo)
Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said before his team played in the state tournament that he thought Trent Noah was the best player in the state
Noah did his best to justify his coach’s confidence Thursday in a 67-59 state tourney win over defending champion Warren Central. He had 35 points on 11-for-19 shooting overall from the field that included 6-for-8 from 3. He also was 7-for-9 at the foul line.
If that wasn’t enough, the South Carolina commit also had 11 rebounds and three assists while playing all 32 minutes.
“The last few years mountain schools have struggled here and I am glad these guys got the opportunity to showcase their talents,” Jones said after the win. “We were not overconfident but I feel we can play with a lot of people. It’s just a real special moment, something I will never forget.
“I am sure a lot of coaches feel their guy is the best. I want to have confidence in our kids. I have confidence in Trent.”
Noah’s biggest shot might have been when Warren Central cut the lead to 60-57 and he hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining to shift the momentum back to his team.
“Teammates try to put me in the right spots to help us win. I just knew I needed to step up when they were making a run. My teammates trusted me and thankfully it went in,” Noah said.
He appreciated what his coach said about him and the confidence he has he will make the right play.
“There are so many great players in this season but if your name is mentioned (with them) that is an honor,” Noah said.
Warren Central coach William Unseld was frustrated his team did not have a better understanding of where Noah was during the game.
“They have a great player who had a great game today,” Unseld said. “We kept leaving Noah open and that definitely was not the game plan.”
What makes Noah so good?
“He is so big and strong and a tough matchup in high school. If you put a little guy on him, he will post and if you have a bigger guy he will go around him. He is a heck of a player.
“Every time we made a run, we lost him. Kept losing him. Wide open. I told our players it did not matter who you got if you see him open, go to him. He’s the man.”
Noah will play in the state quarterfinals in Rupp Arena Friday but likely will also be back in Rupp Arena with South Carolina playing Kentucky.
‘it was a great experience. Everybody dreams of playing at Rupp. To do it with the kids you grew up with and go to class with, I don’t think any of us will forget this moment.”
6 Responses
Is UK missing out on another great Kentucky kid who will come back to haunt them? Wah Wah Jones, one of UK;s greatest players, came from Harlan, UK needs to try o steal this kid away from South Carolina if possible, even a transfer as a soph).
The FRAUD doesn’t recruit white Kentucky kids unless he is forced to do so.
That is well said. If not for Reed Sheppard having the parental Ky connection, he goes elsewhere…
He is going to be a better college player than Perry. I think Perry is very good but I think this kid has the body to bang in the SEC. I would have gave him and Perry a scholarship offer. Cal is to busy worried about who is going to be a NBA player in the shortest amount of time so he doesn’t have to do his job which is coach a kid and making them what they are. He has never done that. I say he stays 1 to 2 more years at Kentucky. He almost has to until the buyout is 20 million or less. 33 million and probably at least 17 million to get another coach your looking at a 50+ million dollar investment if he leaves this year. That’s why I say 1 or 2 more years. If I was Cal I would tell the university to give me half my buyout and ill leave its not like he doesn’t have millions already and would find a job on ESPN very fast. If he wants out of coaching. I don’t think he will leave or get fired with the recruiting class he has coming in and with the buyout. Like I said 1-2 more years stuck with him. The best the fans can do to make it faster and it’ll never happen is nobody going to the games at RUPP. We will see.
I love Noah too but do not underestimate Travis
happy to see that coach pope is after kentucky kids, cal would never and so it’s great to know we have a coach who recruits in state and makes kentucky players a priority, it’s about time .