NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Massachusetts last decade

NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Massachusetts of last decade

By Joey Loose | Aug 23, 2022

Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Shabazz Napier (13) drives to the basket defended by Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) in the second half during the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel Mandatory USA TODAY Sports /

5. Nerlens Noel – Kentucky

Our third (and not final) Massachusetts player who attended Tilton School in New Hampshire, Noel was a 6’10 forward who was expected to be a star. The top-rated prospect in the 2012 class, he was recruited by John Calipari and played his only season of collegiate ball at Kentucky, hoping to lead a Wildcats team fresh off a national championship run.

Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game, putting up extremely impressive numbers, but the season was a slight disappointment. He tore his ACL in February, putting an abrupt end to a fantastic freshman campaign. Among his impressive performances was a 12-block game against Ole Miss and a 19-point, 14-rebound effort at Texas A&M. Unfortunately, without Noel, the Wildcats didn’t even make the Big Dance.

Despite missing the last nine games of the season, Noel led the SEC in blocks and was named All-SEC First Team, SEC Rookie of the Year, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Noel was a tremendous talent with rare shot-blocking ability and was a fantastic weapon on the defensive end. Despite that injury, he was drafted with the 6th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and continues to play in the league.

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