Trent Noah confirms he never looked to leave Kentucky: 'This is the greatest place on Earth'

In modern college basketball, it’s rare for a player like Trent Noah to return to a program for his sophomore season. Alas, that’s exactly what he’s doing, and according to him, he never considered any alternative.

“This is the greatest place on earth and I love Coach Pope’s vision for me,” Noah said. “He’s on kind of the same path that I see. So, that’s what we’re looking to do this year and, on the way, win No. 9.”

Noah initially committed to South Carolina while still in high school, but after Mark Pope was hired at UK and reached out to Noah, the Harlan County, Kentucky native was forced to rethink his decision. Noah ultimately flipped his commitment to Kentucky despite the fact that most experts didn’t expect him to receive much playing time in the 2024-25 season.

Alas, after Kentucky battled a wave of injuries, Pope had no choice but to play Noah. The 6-foot-5 forward didn’t let him down, putting together numerous solid performances, including an 11-point outing in Kentucky’s 75-64 win over Tennessee on Feb. 11.

Noah was more than a sharpshooter for the ‘Cats. He was also relentless on the offensive glass, often generating second shot attempts for Kentucky with his impressive hustle.

Now entering his second season, Noah still isn’t expected to be a star for the ‘Cats. However, that didn’t stop him from having an excellent freshman year. Noah has a plan this offseason to ensure he finds even greater success in his sophomore effort.

“Definitely getting stronger, that was one of the biggest emphases,” Noah said. “Looking to improve my game on both ends of the floor, trying to put the ball on the deck more, and creating for others. Getting bigger, faster, stronger, that’s the main thing.

“… Then, we’ve kind of been talking about locking down the defensive end. [Pope] thinks I can be a really good steals guy. He talks about the defensive IQ, and then the defensive abilities, kind of two different things. And he thinks that I have a really good defensive IQ, and if I can just put those two together, then he sees a strong defender in me.”

Part of Trent Noah’s improved defense will rely on his improved fitness. When Noah first took the court last season, he had a solid frame but didn’t always look like he belonged physically, especially against SEC talent.

In offseason workouts and press conferences, Noah is visibly in better shape. Additionally, Noah’s defense should naturally improve with a year of experience under his belt. Wildcats fans have plenty to look forward to in the upcoming season as they cheer on their fellow Kentuckian.