Data from the high-tech NOAH shooting system shows who really has the purest stroke on the Wildcats' roster
What makes a perfect jump shot? Is it the form? The follow-through? The rotation? For the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program, the answer is found in data. The team uses the NOAH Shooting System, a sophisticated technology that tracks the flight of every shot to give players and coaches instantaneous, objective feedback.
The system uses sensors mounted above the rim to analyze three key metrics: the arc of the shot, its depth in the rim, and its left-right deviation. The goal is to achieve the "perfect shot," which the company defines as having a 45∘ entry angle, a depth of 11 inches (meaning it passes through the center of the hoop), and zero deviation to the left or right. When a player hits these exact metrics, they've entered what NOAH Basketball calls the "splash zone."
It’s the ultimate measure of shooting purity, removing all luck and rewarding perfect mechanics.
Thanks to reporting from Tristan Pharis, we now have a fascinating look at who has been living in the splash zone during Kentucky's summer workouts. Over the last 30 days of shooting, the data reveals the team's top five most consistent shooters based on their percentage of shots that land in that perfect splash zone.
The results are telling:
- Kam Williams: 35%
- Trent Noah: 28%
- Denzel Aberdeen: 22%
- Braydon Hawthorne: 19%
- Jasper Johnson: 19%
The name at the top, Kam Williams, a transfer from Tulane, is a fantastic testament to his hard work and pure shooting stroke, leading the pack by a significant margin. Close behind is in-state sophomore Trent Noah, whose reputation as an elite shooter is clearly backed up by the data. The presence of both established players and newcomers on this list speaks volumes about the overall shooting potential of Mark Pope's first Kentucky squad.
In an offense that promises to value floor spacing and three-point shooting and pace, this data isn't just a fun offseason tidbit. It's a glimpse into who might be the most reliable threats from deep when the lights come on at Rupp Arena.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premiere League soccer. #UpTheAlbion