After a horrific knee injury back on February 12th, forced University of Kentucky All American big man Nerlens Noel to miss the remaining portion of the 2013 season, and the defending NCAA Champion Wildcats to miss this year’s “Big Dance”, many wondered how the injury would affect the former top rated HS recruit’s draft stock going forward.
On Monday, the potential #1 overall pick made things much more clear after announcing that he would be leaving Lexington after just one season by officially declaring for the 2013 NBA Draft.
Prior to the injury, Noel had established himself as the nation’s best shot-blocker, averaging a remarkable 4.4 blocks per game, and his 106 blocks were the second most in a single season at Kentucky, trailing only Anthony Davis.
Noel won SEC honors as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and was an All SEC 1st Team selection.
In 24 games with the Wildcats, he averaged 10.5 ppg, 9.5 reb, and shot an impressive .590% from the field. Noel registered 12 blocks in a game back on January 29th, and notched 6 double-doubles on the season.
He arguably has the most athletic ability and potential of any player in this year’s Draft, despite the lengthy rehab from a torn ACL he sustained. In THD’s most recent Mock Draft, Noel ranks as the #1 prospect on the board.
If Noel is selected No. 1 overall in the June 27 draft, it will be the first time in nearly 60 years players from the same school have been selected with the top pick in consecutive drafts, following Anthony Davis in 2012.
Here’s Noel Saying His Goodbyes To Big Blue Nation:
Nerlens Noel Freshman Season Mixtape:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
