By SAM LANCE
WICHITA, KS — If there’s one thing you notice from watching class of 2026 power forward Noah Hill during Sunrise Christian’s open practice, it’s his athleticism. Standing at 6-foot-7, Hill can simply jump out the gym.
“What can you say? He’s all in,” Sunrise head coach Kyle Lindsted told ZAGSBLOG. “You aren’t going to lose a toughness battle with him out there. He has a real distinct set of skills that you can’t just teach. You can’t teach what he has, and that’s a big time motor and athleticism and a high level of physicality.”
Hill understands that he’s undersized for his position. Therefore, he has to play with tenacity.
“A lot of time guys underestimate me because of my size,” Hill said. “So I kind of have to play harder than everyone else. I have to play to a certain level because I’m not as tall as most guys. So that’s kind of why I play like I play.”
As for his recruitment, Hill has taken three unofficial visits so far in the process to Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Wichita State. He’s also hearing from programs like Loyola Chicago, Rice, San Jose State and Stephen F. Austin. Texas A&M and Wichita State are the two programs that have offered.
Hill broke down his three unofficial visits to ZAGSBLOG:
Texas A&M: “I love A&M so far. I took a visit. I loved the environment there. It’s simply one of those sports schools. They have a huge fan base. I really love going down there for a visit. It was very hospitable, very welcoming. There’s not really anything bad I could say about them. I think they really fit my playstyle as well. I have a good relationship with coach Lyle Wolf. But yeah I really like them as well.”
Texas Tech: “I love the coaching staff. I love coach Buff [Kellen Buffington] in particular because he ran TheTB5Reports for a long time. Everybody knew him. So when he got the job at Texas Tech it was like a big thing. I’ve seen what he’s done with players like Cade Cunningham and a lot of those others players. Like he really promoted them. It’s kind of like a dream that I’m being recruited by him. And not just him. Coach Grant [McCasland], you know, I really have a pretty decent relationship with all of them.”
Wichita State: “That was more of a recent recruitment thing. Coach Quincy Acy actually reached out to me. One thing I really really like about them is coach Acy and me have similar playing styles. I really just love that. I knew who he was just based off the teams he played for, but when I went back and looked and watched him play, I actually saw that we were very similar. We’re like the same height, same build. Pretty similar athleticism. So I really like coach Acy. And not just him, but them as a coaching staff. I have a pretty decent relationship with coach Paul Mills the head coach there. But yeah I really like them as well. I’m trying to get to know them a little bit, but so far I really like them. I think it could be a good move for me.”
Hill hasn’t taken any official visits so far in the process, but he could have one coming up.
“I don’t have any dates scheduled yet,” Hill said. “Me and Wichita State, we’re looking to get one this month actually. This October. But I don’t have anything officially scheduled yet.”
For his junior season at Sunrise, Hill is looking to simply win games.
“Last year the guys didn’t have a winning record,” Hill said. “And I’m a winner. I like to win. Coach is on the same level as me and I feel like everyone else is on the same page. So as long as we all lock in and put work in everyday, we really have a shot with our size and athleticism. We could do it, you know.”
Hill isn’t the only athlete in his family. His father, J.D. Hill, played Division I football at Texas State. J.D. was a multi-sport athlete, as he played baseball and basketball too. Hill’s mother played high school basketball but was “never serious about it.”
Hill is ranked the No. 128 overall prospect in the 2026 class by On3.
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