After spending the last two seasons waiting for Trent Noah’s talent to translate into consistent production, Kentucky fans may finally be on the verge of seeing the breakout they’ve been hoping for.
Noah generated plenty of buzz during last year’s summer practices because of his outstanding shooting ability. Former Kentucky point guard Jaland Lowe even described him as “the best shooter I’ve ever seen,” raising expectations that he would become an immediate offensive weapon for the Wildcats.
The regular season, however, told a different story. Noah averaged 3.0 points per game while shooting 36 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. Although he delivered flashes of his potential—including an impressive 11-point outing against Tennessee during his freshman season—he never found a consistent rhythm in Kentucky’s rotation.
Despite those struggles, Noah has remained one of the program’s most respected players. The Harlan County native originally committed to South Carolina before Mark Pope arrived in Lexington. Pope quickly made him a priority, convincing him to flip his commitment and become a Wildcat, and Noah has continued working behind the scenes ever since.
Now entering his third season, the confidence surrounding Noah is growing once again.
Speaking recently with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Pope highlighted Noah as one of Kentucky’s biggest standouts during summer workouts.
“Probably the guy that’s getting talked about the least that is showing out right now is Trent Noah,” Pope said. “He is physical, and he can really shoot it.”
Pope also pointed to one of the biggest reasons Noah struggled to make a larger impact last season. Kentucky lacked consistent playmaking after losing stability at the point guard position, making it difficult for shooters like Noah to get quality looks.
“When we lost our point guard spot, we lost a real creator vibe on our roster,” Pope explained. “It hurt guys like Trent, who might not manufacture a lot of shots. But if shots can be manufactured for him, he’s going to make them all, it feels like.”
That issue may no longer exist.
This season, Noah is expected to spend more time at shooting guard, a role that better fits his strengths as a catch-and-shoot scorer. With proven playmakers like Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins leading the backcourt, Kentucky should be able to create far more open opportunities for one of its best perimeter shooters.
Diallo averaged 4.5 assists per game last season, while Wilkins averaged 4.7 assists. Veteran guard Jerone Morton and promising freshman Mason Williams also give the Wildcats additional creators capable of setting teammates up for easy baskets.
Kentucky’s deep frontcourt, featuring Milan Momcilovic, Justin McBride, Ousmane N’Diaye, Kam Williams, and Braydon Hawthorne, should also allow Noah to settle comfortably into a role where his shooting can have maximum impact.
Another encouraging sign came from Pope’s latest practice update. He revealed that six Kentucky players are currently shooting better than 70 percent during three-point shooting drills. While he didn’t identify every player, Noah is widely expected to be among that impressive group.
If these strong summer performances carry into the regular season, the long-awaited Trent Noah breakout could finally become a reality. With improved guard play, a more natural role, and renewed confidence from his head coach, Noah appears to be in the best position of his career to become an important piece of Kentucky’s 2026-27 team.
