"The best shooter I’ve ever seen": Jaland Lowe says one Kentucky player is in for a monster year

Jaland Lowe Praises Trent Noah, Teases Big Sophomore Leap for Kentucky Sharpshooter

By all accounts, Jaland Lowe is going to be a problem for Kentucky’s opponents in 2025–26. The sophomore transfer from Pitt brings speed, skill, and an attacking mindset that fits perfectly into Mark Pope’s up-tempo offense. But as Lowe adjusts to Lexington, it’s one of his new teammates that’s caught his eye.

“He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen,” Lowe said of Kentucky sophomore Trent Noah. “I love TN.”

That’s lofty praise coming from a player who averaged 16.8 points and 5.5 assists in the ACC last season. But if Lowe’s right, and Noah is about to blossom, Kentucky fans might be looking at the making of a breakout season.

Noah, a 6'6" guard from Harlan County, Kentucky, showed flashes as a freshman. He came out of the gates strong before hitting the wall that many first-year players do—especially those transitioning from a small-school, do-it-all high school role to the deep waters of high-major basketball. But Noah has always been a scorer. As a senior in high school, he poured in 129 points across four Sweet 16 games, including a 48-point performance that featured 7-of-10 shooting from three.

That shooting stroke, according to Lowe, hasn’t gone anywhere.

With Pope’s system designed to spread the floor and hunt open threes, shooters like Noah could be in line for huge usage upticks. If Lowe plays the part of a dynamic downhill creator—something Pope’s staff believes he can be—then someone has to be ready to catch and cash in those kickouts.

Noah might just be that guy.

Lowe himself is drawing early comparisons to players like Lamont Butler, who enjoyed a career year under Pope last season at BYU. Butler posted personal bests nearly across the board, and if Lowe makes a similar jump, he’ll draw plenty of eyes—and draw defenders with him. That attention should leave Noah and other perimeter threats with plenty of room to operate.

It’s early, but summer workouts are already producing whispers that Noah is lighting it up behind the scenes. And if Lowe’s praise is a preview of what’s to come, Big Blue Nation may be watching a homegrown sniper take center stage.

From Eastern Kentucky to national relevance? That story’s been written before. Trent Noah might be next.