Mountain Mamba to be unleashed in 2025
Harlan native Trent Noah is about to be the latest Kentucky player to make a sophomore leap.
His freshman season was a rollercoaster. There were flashes — like his 11-point outburst in Kentucky’s huge home win over Tennessee — but overall, Noah’s year was defined by inconsistency and limited opportunities. He appeared in 24 games, averaging just 11.1 minutes, 2.7 points, and shooting 33.3% from three.
Still, Mark Pope saw something bigger in him. “Last year was a disaster, his first few weeks of the summer, maybe a lot of the summer, in terms of understanding what we are trying to do...One year later, he walks in, and he’s the most veteran, seasoned voice on the floor." Pope told Matt Norlander on his podcast. "He’s like, "Guys, just everyone relax. Let me explain what Coach is saying right now.' It’s actually so fun to watch from summer to summer and season to season watching these guys grow."
That’s the kind of growth fans love to hear — not just about skill, but about character. Noah stuck around, didn’t run when things got tough, and committed himself to Pope’s offseason program. He could have transferred, but that is not Mountain Mamba mentalilty. And the results are showing.
Teammates have been his biggest hype men. “He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen,” point guard Jaland Lowe said. Freshman center Malachi Moreno echoed the praise: “You could be there on the catch and he’s still going to get a shot off.”
Recruiting analysts have taken notice too. KSR’s Jack Pilgrim said, “I wouldn’t be stunned if Trent Noah becomes the guy Pope looks at off the bench and says, ‘Who can we trust right now?’”
Noah’s journey is also a reminder of how quickly college basketball can shift. Originally committed to South Carolina, he re-opened his recruitment after John Calipari bolted for Arkansas. Mark Pope swooped in, and the talented Kentucky kid decided to stay home.
Now, a year later, he’s poised to be more than just a role player. If Kentucky is going to compete in the SEC, Noah’s shooting and toughness — the qualities that earned him the nickname “Mountain Mamba” — could make him the most trusted player on the bench.
BBN has seen this story before: local kid buys in, grows through adversity, and emerges as a key contributor. Trent Noah might just be next in line.