Trent Noah’s Story Would Be a Perfect Movie Script

Vicky Graff Photo

Stacy Noah was recently watching her nephew play basketball for Harlan County in the Jock Sutherland Classic at Lafayette High School in Lexington when it hit her.

“Last year at the same time I was watching Trent on that court playing in the same tournament and to be where we are today now is pretty remarkable,” said Stacy Noah.

She is today watching her son, Trent, play for coach Mark Pope at Kentucky and making major contributions for the Wildcats.

In the last 12 months, Trent Noah helped Harlan County finish second in the state high school basketball tournament, finished as the state’s fifth all-time leading scorer (3,707 points), decommitted from South Carolina, and eventually signed with Kentucky.

“All this could really be a Lifetime movie,” Stacy Noah said. “The state tournament was just an amazing experience. For our little small-town team to go as far as it did was unreal. Everybody rallied behind the team. It was so wonderful and uplifting for our community and I was super proud for Trent to be part of that.”

Trent Jones had a cousin on the team. His cousin, Kyle Jones, was the team’s head coach and another cousin was an assistant coach. Trent’s father, Dondi, was also an assistant coach on the team.

“It just made it more special to experience all that with people you love and had grown up with,” she said.

Now Trent Noah has created a buzz with fans across the Bluegrass with his overall play. He was a key contributor in two wins over Tennessee. His energy, physicalness, rebounding, and 3-point shooting have helped make him a fan favorite and earned him the nickname “Mountain Mamba.” Pope thinks it is a “fantastic” name and Trent thinks it is a “really clever” nickname that he likes.

His mother is also on board with Mountain Mamba.

“I think it is a clever play on words and represents what he is all about. Of course, he said he is going to call me ‘Mountain Mama’ now,” Stacy Noah said.

Going into this week Trent Noah has played in 14 of UK’s 26 games. In the last seven games, he’s played 83 minutes and gone 10-for-20 from the field with 17 rebounds.

“He has a nice touch and is fearless. That kid has not backed away from any challenge thrown at him,” ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes said about Noah.

Noah’s 11-point, two-rebound game in Rupp Arena against Tennessee came when UK had three players out with injuries and he followed that up with a seven-point outing in the loss at Texas when he played 21 minutes. He played almost 17 minutes in the win over Vanderbilt and even though he went 0-for-4 from the field he had three rebounds and drew praise for his defensive work.

“He loves it and has embraced it all. Nothing he has done has really surprised me,” Noah’s mother said. “I have seen Trent put in the time. I am just delighted his hard work has paid off.

“I had the unique perspective as his mom of going all over the country watching him play AAU and he has always risen to the level of competition he is playing. He puts in the time daily to get better and grow his basketball skill set.”

She said he has created a “buzz of excitement” in his home community again this season.

“I just love it when they announce his name and then say he is from Harlan County. It gives a lot of positive publicity for our county and that really makes me happy,” she said. “I get asked about him daily and always hear they are cheering and rooting for him. He is Harlan County and the people here really have embraced him.”

Trent Noah always wanted the opportunity to play in the SEC.

“He had a list of goals in his room for years and one was to play in the SEC. Now that dream has come true,” she said.

Stacy Noah went to UK. Her father, Perky Bryant, played football at Kentucky and has a “man cave” full of UK pictures and mementos. Trent Noah even wears jersey No. 9 because that is the championship number the team is chasing this season.

“Trent always has seen that Kentucky was the team my dad was rooting for. Again, it was a dream come true for him to play at Kentucky and wear the blue and white,” Stacy Noah said.

Her father, 83, is now in a wheelchair and prefers to watch the games on his big screen TV sitting in his recliner at home.

“My dad was really excited after that last win over Tennessee. He really enjoyed that and even watching at home he gets excited,” she said.

The Noahs have tried to attend all the games they can. They never miss a home game and have gone to some away games.

“We have our room booked for Nashville (and the SEC Tournament),” she said. “We want to be as supportive as we can. Dondi is always nervous. If you are sitting beside him at a game, you have to move because he is always moving. He is very intense. He can look stoic but internally he is going crazy. I am more about enjoying the experience but I do get nervous, too. However, I don’t want anything to steal the  joy of this experience.”

Stacy Noah says the experience has been even better because freshman Travis Perry of Lyon County is also playing and contributing to the team’s success.

“It’s great having those two on the court together. They are going to be lifelong friends and that is a great part of this story,” Noah’s mother said. “They competed so heavily (against each other) in high school but now they are teammates.”

She’s also proud that her son has not lost his humility or willingness to share his faith every chance he gets.

“I just love his heart and am so proud of him for being willing to give credit, glory, and praise (to God) and recognizing he is blessed in this journey to be where he is now,” Stacy Noah said. “I have always said God’s hand was in this and opening different doors and allowing him to be where he is now.”