Mark Pope Sends More Praise Trent Noah’s Way: “He’s Been Absolutely Outstanding”

Mark Pope Sends More Praise Trent Noah’s Way: “He’s Been Absolutely Outstanding”

Every season in Kentucky basketball, a story begins quietly  somewhere between the practice floor and the roar of Rupp Arena. This year, that story might just belong to Trent Noah, the homegrown sophomore from Harlan County who’s starting to look less like a role player and more like a player of destiny.

At Kentucky Media Day earlier this week, Noah stood behind the podium, calm but confident. His message was simple: experience changes everything.

“Having a year under my belt  it just makes a world of difference,” he said. “You start to see the game differently. You start to feel it.”

And that feeling, according to Mark Pope, is beginning to translate into something special.

From Unexpected Minutes to Unshakable Confidence

Noah’s freshman year was never supposed to be about minutes  at least not as many as he ended up playing. Injuries to teammates ahead of him in the rotation forced Pope’s hand, and suddenly, a kid from Eastern Kentucky was taking the floor in pressure-filled moments at Rupp Arena.

He didn’t flinch.

When the Wildcats needed him, Noah responded  knocking down big threes against Tennessee (11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep), battling on the boards at Texas, and showing flashes of that confident rhythm that made him a legend back home.

It wasn’t about the stats. It was about how he handled it poised, composed, and utterly fearless.

Pope’s Trust and a Summer of Transformation

Now, heading into year two, Pope’s praise for Noah is louder than ever.

On the KSR Radio Show, the Kentucky head coach couldn’t hold back his excitement:

“Trent Noah is crushing it so far in camp,” Pope said Friday morning. “He’s in the mid-60s in live five-on-five shooting from three. He’s making great decisions on the floor. He’s been absolutely outstanding.”

Pope’s eyes light up when he talks about players who “get it.” He’s seen the transformation  from a freshman just trying to survive practice to a sophomore dictating pace and spacing.

“It’s fun, year two,” Pope continued. “Because guys walk into the gym already understanding what’s trying to be accomplished. They’re not just doing the game  they’re playing it. Trent’s doing that now.”

That shift  from learning to leading  might be Noah’s biggest leap.

The Proof at Pro Day

When Kentucky held its Pro Day earlier this week, the chatter wasn’t about the expected stars. It was about the guy in blue and white hitting everything from deep.

Before 30 NBA scouts, Noah showed exactly what Pope had been bragging about  a confident, balanced, and deadly shooting stroke. Whether it was corner threes, step-backs, or transition looks, his rhythm was pure.

The whispers from the baseline were all the same: “That’s the shooter.”

He’s also physically transformed. Over the offseason, Noah reportedly trimmed body fat while adding muscle, now standing at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds of lean power. His jumper looks quicker, his movement lighter, and his confidence sharper.

Pope revealed that in live reps, Noah is averaging a ridiculous 1.76 points per possession  a number that feels like something out of a video game.

“Trent has made a massive jump,” Pope said with a grin.

The Humility Behind the Hype

Despite the numbers, Noah remains grounded just like he’s always been.

When asked about his hot streak, he immediately redirected the credit to his teammates and his coach’s offensive sets.

“It definitely makes it easier when I have so many good players around me,” Noah said. “Coach Pope knows how to find ways to get us open looks. I just try to take advantage of them.”

That humility is part of what makes Noah’s rise so compelling. He’s not chasing the spotlight; it’s finding him.

The Mountain Mamba Is Coming

In a program as deep as Kentucky’s, carving out a role is never easy  but Noah’s shooting and rebounding might make him impossible to keep off the floor.

He’s arguably the best outside shooter on the roster, with Kam Williams being the only real challenger for that title. Combine that with his rebounding instincts, and you’ve got the type of player Pope values most: tough, versatile, and unselfish.

But the next step  the one Pope keeps preaching  is defense. If Noah can consistently hold his own on the perimeter, he’ll not only play meaningful minutes  he could start.

And the thought of a Kentucky lineup featuring Noah raining threes in Rupp while feeding off that hometown energy? That’s the stuff of Big Blue dreams.

Kentucky’s Secret Weapon

When Pope looks at this team, he sees potential everywhere  veterans, transfers, freshmen. But Noah represents something deeper: a Kentucky kid making it big at Kentucky.

That matters in Lexington. It always has.

From John Pelphrey to Darius Miller, Kentucky fans have always had a special love for players who carry the spirit of the Commonwealth into battle. Noah is next in that line  the latest hometown story written in blue and white ink.

He calls himself “The Mountain Mamba,” and while that nickname started as a joke among friends back in Harlan, it’s starting to sound prophetic. The confidence, the work ethic, the fearless shot-making  it’s all there.

The Year of the Jump

Every great Kentucky story begins with a leap — that sophomore jump when talent meets confidence and everything clicks. For Trent Noah, that moment feels close.

Pope believes it. His teammates believe it. The fans are starting to believe it too.

The only question left is just how far he can take it.

Because if the early signs are any indication, the kid from Harlan isn’t just earning playing time  he’s earning his moment.

And in a program built on legends, that’s how every new one begins.