The legend of Trent Noah's offseason 3-point shooting continues to grow

Stick a microphone in front of a random Kentucky men’s basketball player long enough, and you’ll eventually hear them praise Trent Noah‘s abilities as a shooter.

Notably, Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe proclaimed Noah as possibly “the best shooter I’ve ever seen” earlier this summer. Head coach Mark Pope continues to mention Noah’s name during offseason press conferences, even saying the Harlan County product felt like “the most veteran of all of our guys, the game just felt right to him” during Kentucky’s recent scrimmage victory over La Familia.

Looking at the pieces around him, many assume Noah might find himself on the outside looking in of the rotation going into 2025-26, but we’re over halfway through summer practice now, and all reports out of the Joe Craft Center include some sort of praise for the 6-foot-5 rising sophomore wing. That continued during Thursday’s media session with Kentucky’s freshmen.

“He’s the best shooter in the gym,” Malachi Moreno told reporters about Noah. “Coach emphasizes being there on the catch so they don’t get a shot off. You could be there on the catch with Trent and he’s still going to get a shot off. He’s such a prolific shooter.

“Trent, he doesn’t miss,” Braydon Hawthorne added.

Pope’s second Kentucky team looks to be deeper, more athletic, and more talented overall compared to his debut squad in 2024-25, but it might lack the elite-level outside shooters that the Wildcats had last season. Ansley Almonor (50.9 percent), Jaxson Robinson (45.7 percent), and Koby Brea (40 percent) all shot 40 percent or better from deep against SEC competition. Could Noah be someone who reaches that mark in 2025-26?

He’ll need more playing time to make it happen. Noah appeared in 24 games as a freshman, averaging 2.7 points in 11.1 minutes per outing. He shot a respectable 12-36 (33.3 percent) from long range in his limited role, stepping up a couple of times in big moments for the Wildcats. Remember his three triples at home against Tennessee? Shooting will get him on the floor in 2025-26, but rebounding, good defense, and leadership could keep him there.

“And he’s just a good mentor,” Moreno said. “He’s one of the returnees, so he’s been really helpful on just the defensive side and being a really good teacher.”

Noah racked up over 3,700 high school points, fifth-most in Kentucky state history. He shot 43 percent from deep as a senior on his way to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. Knocking down three-pointers is a major reason why he’s here in the first place. If his hot-shooting summer carries over into the regular season, we could be looking at a breakout season for the Mountain Mamba.

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