Nerlens Noel from Massachusetts..ESPN U defensive POY..the next KG?

[chambers]

Ok the next KG question was obviously to get your attention, but this kid is from MA and loves the Celtics.
His fave player is KG and he's trying to improve his jumpshot.
6'10" sophomore with a 7' 6" wing span haha...wow. One we'd definitely like to play for the home team in the NBA,

nice interview:
http://www.slamonline.com/online/college-hs/high-school/2011/02/nerlens-noel-qa/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9yO1BrlzU8&feature=player_embedded

[manl_lui]

not bad, he's only a sophomore though, still a lot of room to grow, lets see him 2 years from now when hes a senior, and where espn ranks him by then

[nickagneta]

He's actually entering his junior year in high school even though he should be entering his senior year. He stayed back a year when he switched from Everett High to the private academy he now attends.

Kid is from Everett and lives the next street over from me. Seems to have put some muscle on him this summer.

His upside is more Dikembe Motumbo than KG though.

[action781]

He is obviously very young, but I agree with nick's comparison.  He looks awkward on offense and offense doesn't seem to come natural to him.

Definitely looks he needs to bulk up and gets stronger, but he's young so I'd expect he will.

[Kane3387]

Looks like he is going against some pretty serious competition there 

[nickagneta]

Looks like he is going against some pretty serious competition there 

Actually some of that footage is against some pretty significant competition at his level. The BABC plays nationally against the best talent from other cities and Tilton plays a tremendously difficult prep schedule.

Nerlens is a born shot blocker and defender and will win NBA DPOY awards. I guarantee it. He just makes it look ridiculously easy.

BTW, for anyone wondering, early word is he's going to do his one year of college ball at Florida, though that is a fluid situation.

[gift]

this kid has excellent timing.  hopefully he keeps working, because he could be good.

i'd like to see some more explosiveness (there were a few good ones in there).  strength will come and he doesn't seem naturally awkward, so i would think the offense could easily improve too.

also, is he a legit 6-10?

[chambers]

this kid has excellent timing.  hopefully he keeps working, because he could be good.

i'd like to see some more explosiveness (there were a few good ones in there).  strength will come and he doesn't seem naturally awkward, so i would think the offense could easily improve too.

also, is he a legit 6-10?

I was thinking the same thing re his timing.
His timing is excellent which means he can probably develop extremely good footwork and thus low post moves, particularly if they get started with him from a young age- but they really need to start early so he gets a good 3-4 years before the NBA comes along.

[BASS_THUMPER]

far from impressed prolly biggest dude in high skool in that state and playin with scrubs...

dont get ya hopes up..

good find tho!

[Galeto]

I saw top high school basketball for the first time on ESPN3 and not having a reference point, it's hard to know how to read these guys.  It'd be interesting to follow Nerlens and others.

At his young age, Nerlens was an interesting mix of skills.  Very good passer off the dribble, made a bunch of layups with his offhand but generally looked like a very raw offensive prospect.  No jumper, limited post game and not a natural finisher around the basketball.  As for his ballyhooed defense, he was an outstanding shotblocker both on and off the ball but a below average rebounder.  He didn't have the steeltrap hands you see with great rebounders.  I don't know if that can be developed given his age or not. 

[nickagneta]

also, is he a legit 6-10?

I think he might be even taller. He's definitely a legit 6'10"

[nickagneta]

Great article on Nerlens here.

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/massachusetts/post/_/id/313/everett-native-nerlens-noel-is-the-nations-top-defensive-big-man

Here's my prediction...he's the #1 pick in the NBA in 2014, barring injuries. He had one of the more amazing AAU summers ever with the BABC club.

For you people who want to build the C's on youth, well, it would be huge for the next great Celtics team to land this future defensive monster.

[PosImpos]

There is no "next KG."  Let's get over that concept right now.

[BASS_THUMPER]

ton of playas better than kg...

a grip of ballas better than jordan....

most dont have that drive so the world wont see the talent

[PosImpos]

ton of playas better than kg...

a grip of ballas better than jordan....

most dont have that drive so the world wont see the talent

That's kinda the point though . . . you'll never see another player with the combination of raw talent and nearly-crazy intensity that KG has in the kind of freakish body that KG has.

You'll also never see a player as ultra-talented, athletic, and clutch as Jordan who is also as supremely competitive as he was.


KG's intensity and MJ's unbelievable competitiveness are just as much a part of what makes them unique and impossible to equal as their inestimable talent and physical gifts.