Each and every time Phenom Hoop Report gets to report or sees a commitment from a player we have seen over the years, it is always a fantastic day. It is great to see players achieve their goal to play at the next level and it is such a great accomplishment for that player.
Here is the latest commitment.
Player: Kenny Noland
Class: 2022
Committed to: Columbia
What He Said:
Phenom: What made Columbia the place for you in the end?
Noland: I fell in love with the coaching staff and the team in my time in NYC. All of the coaches and players showed me a true family atmosphere, which is extremely important to me. Coach Ingles and Coach Carberry believe in me a lot as well and have been recruiting me for a long time and we have built a great relationship. I look forward to being a piece in Columbia winning an Ivy League Championship.
Phenom: How did you inform the staff and what did they have to say when you told them?
Noland: When I knew I wanted to commit, I called Coach Ingles and gave him the news. He definitely sounded excited, which made me feel good. And we talked for a long time about the future of the program. I’m really excited!
Phenom: What do they think you can bring to the court with your game?
Noland: Just a guard who can make plays, score the ball, and make plays for others.
Phenom: What has this process been like for you as far as your recruitment?
Noland: It feels good to see it all pay off. I can remember a time I had no offers and how bad I wanted to play at the next level. To now know I’ll be playing D1 basketball at Columbia feels great, like all the hard work is paying off.
Phenom: What will be your focus now with your commitment behind you?
Noland: My main goal right now is to get better each day and win a NEPSAC championship with Hotchkiss.
Other Articles:
6’3 2021 Kenny Noland, “Books, Basketball & the Velvet Touch”
What Was Said by Phenom Hoops:
“Noland is an exceptional shooter. He has terrific footwork and squares his feet and shoulders to the basket when receiving the pass. As the old saying goes, Noland does his work early in shot preparation. While he’s best in the “catch and shoot” situation, Noland has the ability to dribble-drive and hit the midrange or drop off the pass to open teammates. While he has a solid junior season, we expect big things from Noland this upcoming season. He will provide valuable senior leadership and will be expected to carry the scoring load for Apex Friendship.” – Rick Lewis in 2020
“Kenny Noland is coming off an outstanding senior season at Apex Friendship in which he averaged 23.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 47% from behind the arc. Recently, he announced that he’d be attending The Hotchkiss School for a prep year. Noland is a high academic student-athlete who is a tremendous leader on and off the court. He has a high basketball IQ and does everything well on the court. He can handle it, pass it, and shoot it. He is a good decision maker and takes care of the basketball, as shown by his 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. Noland has the ability to play either guard position. He is very unselfish and can make plays for others, but has also shown the ability to take over games and fill it up from a scoring perspective. Considering all the good things that Noland does on the offensive side of the ball, his defense is what’s most impressive. He is really quick, has a strong frame, and does an excellent job of staying in front of opponents. He doesn’t gamble. He slides his feet and keeps his chest in front.” – Colby Lewis
“He does an incredible job leading this team. He always has a calm, under-control demeanor. Whether they are winning or losing, his manner doesn’t change. He shot the ball well from the perimeter, knocking down four three-point field goals. He got to the basket and to the foul line. What was most impressive during this game was good of an on-ball defender he is. He came up with four steals on the night, and he isn’t someone who gambles. He plays very fundamental defense. He does a great job of keeping his chest in front of opposing ball handlers. By doing so, he is able to force opponents into help, come up with steals, and create easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.”
