Now that Kentucky’s starting five has bolted for the NBA, the Wildcats will look to rely on the production of incoming freshman and top high school recruit Nerlens Noel as they try to defend their title next season. Perhaps it’s a good thing he’s setting lofty goals for himself.
In the blog he writes for ESPN.com, Noel, who notably used his tremendous Christopher “Kid” Reid flat top to announce his commitment to Big Blue Nation, cited some of outgoing Kentucky star Anthony Davis‘ accomplishments when discussing what he wants to achieve next season.
“My goals for next year are to win a national title first and foremost,” Noel wrote. “Then I want to beat Anthony Davis’ shot-block record, and I want to win National Player of the Year. I definitely plan to put the work in to accomplish those goals.”
In addition to being a big part of Kentucky’s first national title in 14 years, Davis hauled in nearly every single player of the year award this season and, of course, utterly demolished the school’s single-season blocks record with 186, an NCAA freshman record.
While a national championship and a player of the year award aren’t out of the question, Davis’ blocks record is going to be a difficult feat, even for a good shot blocker like Noel. But Davis himself knows Noel has the tools to shatter his mark.
“I can’t block with my left hand like he blocks ’em,” Davis told the Courier-Journal. “He can block with either hand. I kind of tip it with my left hand. The only difference is he likes to throw them into the crowd, and I like to keep it in play. But I’m pretty sure they’ll change that here, though.”
We’ll have to wait to see if Noel can put together a season like Davis had, but at least we already know Noel has probably surpassed Davis in indecent proposals.
H/T Real GM
Photo credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE
