The Kentucky Wildcats finished the 2024-25 season with a 24-12 record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen under first-year head coach Mark Pope.
Their run to the Sweet Sixteen marked the program’s first under Pope, ending with a hard-fought 78-65 loss to a second-ranked Tennessee Volunteers squad on March 28th.
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True freshman forward Trent Noah, a Harlan, Kentucky native, appeared in 24 games and averaged 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per contest.
On Friday, Noah released a video on Twitter announcing his decision to return for his sophomore season with the Wildcats, complete with highlights and the short caption, “still chasing 9”.
Kentucky’s transition to Coach Pope’s system paid immediate dividends, with the Wildcats ranking 12th in the final AP Poll and posting a 10-8 SEC mark, now the toughest conference in college basketball.
Offensively, the team averaged 85.6 points per game (seventh best in Division I), while breaking its single-season record for three-pointers made.
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Defensively, Kentucky held opponents to 76.8 points on average, reflecting steady improvement over the year.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope.Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Kentucky has been very active this offseason, securing a No. 2 transfer portal class highlighted by Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe.
That depth means Noah faces stiff competition, but his familiarity with Pope’s system gives him a real shot at increased minutes.
As a Kentucky native, his return for the 2025-26 season offers the opportunity for a young local talent to cement himself as a key two-way piece for a potential national championship contender.
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