The Nerlens Noel ACL injury was a game-changer to say the least. Nerlens Noel has officially played his last games of college basketball, his final days with the Kentucky Wildcats. The Nerlens Noel ACL injury will be the #1 topic relating to his NBA Draft stock. He would have been in contention for the number one pick. Although we had him as #4 overall before he went down.
Nerlens Noel will have plenty of opportunities at the draft combine to show that he is 100% recovered.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS: All Nerlens Noel needed to do is look at what Anthony Davis was able to accomplish this past season as a blueprint for what his future might hold in Big Blue Nation and beyond. Besides, some people are called him “Anthony Davis 2.0.” However, that was a turn-off for Nerlens Noel who was expected by the outside world to step right in and be the next Davis.
Nerlens Noel averaged 10.5 points and led the SEC in rebounding at 9.5 per game while leading the nation in blocked shots at 4.4 per outing.
“I have loved my time at Kentucky, but I feel that I’m ready to take the next step to the NBA,” Noel said in a prepared statement.
“I’ve learned so much here at UK and am thankful for coach Calipari, the staff and my teammates for all of their support. I especially appreciate the Big Blue Nation and all of the support, prayers and well-wishes I’ve received from them during my rehab and decision-making process. I’ll always be a Wildcat!”
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
