Nerlens Noel

NERLENS NOEL

Status: UK signee
C | 6-10 | 215
High school: Tilton School (N.H.)
Hometown: Everett, Mass.

What he brings: Unparalleled defense. Noel is considered by recruiting analysts to be the best shot blocker coming out of high school since Greg Oden in 2006. He’ll be expected to anchor UK’s interior defense from the get-go, and he’s already set his sights on Anthony Davis’ blocked-shot records. It could happen. After Noel committed to the Cats in April, Davis said of the future UK big man, “I think he’s better than me.”

Question mark: Can he score? No one doubts Noel’s ability to change a game with his defense, but there are plenty of questions about his play on the other end. Davis made it through most of last season by scoring on alley-oops and put-backs, then unleashed a nearly unstoppable array of post moves as the tournaments approached. But Davis also came to Lexington with a better offensive reputation than Noel. For the Cats to contend for No. 9, Noel will probably have to become a scoring threat in the paint.

One-and-done? Not only will Noel almost certainly leave after one season, he could wind up being John Calipari’s third No. 1 overall pick in four years at UK. The most recent DraftExpress.com mock draft for 2013 has Noel going in the top spot, and he’s also the No. 1 player on ESPN’s Top 100 board for next year. If he even comes close to living up to those expectations as a freshman, it’s hard to see him sticking around.

“They play as a unit and are very unselfish. Also the fans were incredible on my visit. They are behind the program 100 percent.”

- Nerlens Noel

Tracking Noel