Trent Noah earned his place in Harlan County High School basketball history last season just by playing in his first game, becoming the first eighth-grader to make the Black Bears’ varsity roster. It soon became obvious it was only the beginning.
After moving into the starting lineup at point guard during the summer, Noah got progressively better. He averaged 11.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as the Bears posted a 24-11 record with a 52nd District Tournament championship. The Bears knocked off Corbin in the opening round of the 13th Region Tournament and then upset Clay County 65-58 in the semifinals as Noah led the Bears with 16 points. Knox Central rallied for a 72-68 victory over the Bears in the regional finals, but Noah scored 20 points and by then had established himself as one of the region’s top players.
“Trent earned the respect of his coaches and teammates early on this past summer. We put him at point guard from the beginning and he got better as the summer/season progressed,” Harlan County coach Michael Jones said. “At the end of the season, I thought he was playing as well as anyone in the region. If he keeps working, with his size, basketball IQ and potential, the sky is the limit.”
Now a 6-foot-5 freshman, Noah is proving he’s among the state’s best with his play this summer as a member of the Indy Heat Black team on the AAU circuit. He’s already established himself as one of the favorites for the 2024 Mr. Basketball award as the Runna Report listed Noah as the second best player in the class in the state, behind only Warren East’s Ty Price. Two 14th Region players, Perry Central’s Rydge Beverly and Breathitt County’s Austin Sperry, are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Prep Hoops lists Noah as one of 12 on a watch list for the top Kentucky players in the Class of 2024.
Noah has stayed busy this summer with the Gym Rates, playing in two one-day events and two tournaments.
“He is a willing passer, keeps the floor spaced and balanced and excels in our drive and kick style of play,” said Indy Heat coach Benjamin Smith. “He displays a high basketball IQ and shoots the ball at a high percentage at all three levels — from the perimeter, in the mid-range and at the basket. Trent has good size and athleticism, which he uses on defense to contest and block shots, and is a great rebounder at the guard position. As with all our players at this 14U level, we look for week to week improvement playing within our team concepts on both sides of the ball.”
“He’s getting a chance to play against really good competition this summer,” Jones said. “It will not only help him get better but should motivate him to work harder on his own. Trent’s not afraid to put in the work that great players must do.”
Smith expects Noah’s improvement to continue throughout his high school career.
“With Trent’s varsity high school experience, I will look for him to become a more vocal leader on the court, helping his teammates understand defensive assignments and communicating through rotations,” he said. “Having already played one high school season, Trent makes an immediate impact by understanding and accepting any role we give him.”