HARLAN — Harlan County senior Trent Noah has left a lasting legacy in the hearts of his community.
From his start in eighth grade, Noah has poured his heart and soul into the game of basketball, spending more time in Harlan County High School’s gym than at home.
With a career filled with unforgettable moments and achievements, including this past season when Noah averaged 30 points and 10 rebounds per game, leading the Black Bears to a 13th Region title and an appearance in the Boys’ Sweet 16 State Championship game.
“I am so thankful for my experience at Harlan County,” Noah said. “I am grateful to my coaches for believing in me and creating opportunities for me to contribute. My teammates have always been great and I’m thankful for their on and off the court friendships.
“I played since eighth grade and feel like I have spent more time at the Harlan County gym than at home.
“We have the best high school gym in the state and maybe even the nation,” he added. “It was so special to see our huge gym filled with the Black Bear faithful, game-after-game. The love and support of our fan base was unmatched.
Looking back on the past season’s remarkable run to the state title game, Noah recalled the overwhelming support of the Black Bear faithful.
“Our team made history during the Sweet 16 and it is an amazing feeling to know I was a part of that accomplishment,” he said. “We just had a team picture made to go up in the gym to recognize our success this season. It’s a special feeling to know that picture will always be hanging in the gym.
“I had always dreamed of playing in the Sweet 16,” Noah added. “Trying to get there was a huge motivator for me and my teammates to put in all kinds of extra work. The experience of playing and advancing was amazing personally but it was also a special thing for our community. The entire town rallied behind us and made us feel like we were playing for so much more than just a win. The day after the final game, our town came out and there was a huge parade of cars and the community filled the gym to show their support. It was heartwarming to see how proud everyone was of us. I am extremely thankful my shots fell during the tournament. Everyone contributed and that’s why we were able to advance and show the state what makes Harlan County basketball so special.”
Despite his success and being named the 2024 L4 Security 13th Region Player of the Year, Noah remains grounded, crediting his father for instilling in him a strong work ethic from a young age while his dream of playing in the SEC has now become a reality as he gears up to represent South Carolina.
“I have always had big dreams about basketball,” he admitted. “I’m very blessed to have a dad who supported me and helped me grow and improve. I would not be where I am, basketball wise, without my dad’s help. He knew what my goals were and he did everything possible to help me achieve them.
“In my bedroom, I have had a list of basketball goals posted on my wall for years,” Noah added. “At the top of that list is to play in the SEC. I have looked at that every day for years. It’s literally a dream come true that it has become reality. Having the opportunity to play at South Carolina is life-changing. I’m excited about the chance to develop my game even more and compete in one of the best conferences in the nation.”
As Noah looks towards the future, he hopes to be remembered as someone who worked hard and inspired others to do the same.
“I would like to be remembered as someone who worked hard,” he said. “In basketball, I hope that my work ethic inspires others to work hard. I held myself accountable every day to work harder than I did the day before. That was my standard for a day of good work.”
Harlan County coach Kyle Jones summed Noah up best.
“Trent will always been known as a great player, in our community and region, but now he has stamped his name amongst the greats to play in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena,” he said. “His jersey will hang high in our gymnasium one day, but when I look up at that jersey, I will not only think about what a great player he was, but also what a great competitor, teammate, and kid he was during his time at Harlan County High School.”
