Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Nerlens Noel has trimmed his list to Syracuse, Kentucky and Georgetown, according to Scout.com.
The 6-foot-10 Noel has eliminated North Carolina and UConn.
On his recent ESPN blog, he discussed what he liked about they Hoyas, who have a tradition of successful big men, from Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo to Alonzo Mourning down through to Henry Sims.
“I had a chance to talk with Coach John Thompson III (on Monday) and he talked a lot about how successful the program had been with big men,” Noel wrote on ESPN. “He said that they had the blueprint to develop players like me and I’ve got to say that I was definitely feeling what they were saying.”
This week Noel’s mother will host in-home visits with Kentucky coach John Calipari (Monday) and Syracuse (Wednesday), Scout reported.
He could decide soon after.
Noel has now visited all three of his remaining schools. He remains close friends with Syracuse freshman guard Michael Carter-Williams.
The loss of Fab Melo also opens up a spot in the middle of the Orange zone, and Noel could slide in there and replace him should he opt to go there.
Kentucky will likely lose Anthony Davis, the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, and Noel could take his spot on Calipari’s club.
Kentucky and Syracuse both advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, while Georgetown was eliminated Sunday by N.C. State.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.