Trent Noah faked a shot, sent his defender flying, and calmly drained a three-pointer before flashing a confident grin toward the opposing bench. It might have been just the Blue-White Game, but for Kentucky fans watching, that one play said it all.
This is what Kentucky expects from Noah as a sophomore — less thinking, more producing.
Now entering his second year in Lexington, the Harlan County native has transformed from a raw in-state freshman into a player ready to make real noise in Mark Pope’s deep rotation. And his growth hasn’t gone unnoticed.
> “He’s just a vet that knows exactly who he is,” Pope said after the Blue-White scrimmage. “He’s a dangerous, dangerous shooter and brings a calm to our team. I think he’s going to bail us out of situations — like Koby (Brea) did last year.”
A Year of Learning — and Leveling Up
Noah’s freshman numbers — 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game — don’t tell the full story. Early in the season, he struggled to find consistent minutes, appearing in only two of eleven games during one midyear stretch. But when his opportunity came, Noah made it count.
In a late-January matchup at Vanderbilt, he grabbed three offensive boards and a steal in just 12 minutes. From there, he became a steady contributor, highlighted by his breakout against No. 5 Tennessee — 11 points, three triples, and a statement win.
> “Last year I was caught up thinking too much — where to be, what to do,” Noah admitted. “Now it just flows. I know what’s going to happen before it happens.”
Built for This Moment
Noah’s confidence isn’t just coming from experience — it’s backed by data. Kentucky’s Noah tracking system (yes, that’s the actual name) shows he’s been one of the team’s most accurate shooters in practice this offseason.
He and Kam Williams, the sharpshooting transfer from Tulane, have dominated nearly every shooting metric: splash percentage, arc angle, and shot depth.
> “It’s easy with so many good players around me,” Noah said. “Our concepts and play design — it’s a gold mine for a shooter.”
That praise extends to his teammates.
> “Trent’s been one of our best guys in practice every day,” said forward Mouhamed Dioubate. “His confidence and shooting have taken a huge leap.”
The Transformation Continues
Physically, Noah has reshaped his body over the past year, just as he did back in high school when his work ethic turned him into a statewide star.
His former Harlan County coach, Kyle Jones, remembers that shift well.
> “Between his sophomore and junior years, everything changed,” Jones recalled. “He trimmed down, got stronger, and his game took off. He’s put in more time than any kid I’ve seen.”
That relentless drive still defines him — and it’s what keeps his hometown and all of Eastern Kentucky rooting for him.
> “People don’t always get how much it means to a Kentucky kid to wear that jersey,” Jones said. “Every time Trent steps on the floor, he’s playing for his whole state.”
Earning His Place
Noah knows Kentucky’s 2025–26 roster is stacked. Veterans like Otega Oweh, Jaland Lowe, and Denzel Aberdeen headline the backcourt. In the frontcourt, Brandon Garrison and Dioubate are penciled in as starters, while five-star newcomers Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno are waiting in the wings.
That means Noah will have to fight for his minutes — but he’s ready.
> “Last year, everything was new,” Noah said. “Now I already know the system. I can just play.”
And Pope has made it clear what he expects from the sophomore: keep shooting.
> “They believe shooting is my superpower,” Noah said. “So that’s what I’m trying to ride. I’m hunting threes.”
If his offseason performance is any indication, Trent Noah’s second act in Lexington could be the one where everything clicks — and where the home-state kid becomes a real problem for Kentucky’s opponents.
