Trent Noah remains one of the last Kentucky men’s basketball players from the 2024-25 roster still undecided on his future, with the sophomore guard considering whether to return to Lexington for his junior season or enter the transfer portal in search of a larger role.
Noah, a Kentucky native from Harlan County, joined the Wildcats as part of Mark Pope’s first recruiting class in 2024. Over his first two seasons, he has played primarily at the end of the rotation. He appeared in 24 games as a freshman and 21 games as a sophomore, averaging 1.8 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per game for his career.
With the transfer portal open since April 7 and several Wildcats already announcing departures, Noah’s status is one of the final roster questions for Pope entering the 2026-27 offseason. Kentucky has lost Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, Jasper Johnson, and Brandon Garrison to the portal or graduation. Pope has already added four-star point guard Mason Williams in the 2026 class and is pursuing additional guards in the portal.
The 6-foot-6 guard was a prolific scorer in high school, finishing as Kentucky’s sixth all-time leading scorer with 3,707 career points at Harlan County. He was named 2024 Kentucky Mr. Basketball. At UK, he has been used primarily as a floor spacer, shooting 34.1% from three in limited attempts.
The NCAA transfer portal remains open until May 6. Players can still return to their current school after entering the portal, but entering signals intent to explore options.
Noah has not made a public statement about his plans. A source close to the program said Pope has met with all returning players individually to discuss roles for next season.
If Noah returns, he would be one of the few holdovers from Pope’s first roster and would give Kentucky a veteran presence familiar with the program’s culture. If he departs, Kentucky would have another scholarship to use on a transfer or late 2026 addition.
For now, Big Blue Nation waits on a decision from one of its own.
