Noah Cunningham (2017) Recruiting Report
College teams are searching for shooting, shooting, and more shooting. Class of 2017 Noah Cunningham (Pocket City AAU) fits the mold of a dual-purpose guard, capable of shooting and distributing. Which colleges are aware and more importantly, which colleges are interested in…
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Continue ReadingCollege teams are searching for shooting, shooting, and more shooting.
Class of 2017 Noah Cunningham (Pocket City AAU) fits the mold of a dual-purpose guard, capable of shooting and distributing.
Which colleges are aware and more importantly, which colleges are interested in Cunningham?
“I just heard from Lindsey Wilson (NAIA) today,” said Noah’s father Chet Cunningham. “They want him to come down for a workout. They basically asked when would Noah be available.”
Lindsey Wilson Assistant Coach Alex Wesley happened to evaluate Noah at an camp in 2015.
Austin Peay invited Cunningham to their Elite Camp this spring. He intends to attend. The versatile guard has camped with Trevecca Nazarene. He will probably camp with WKU.
“That is where I went and my wife went,” said Mr. Cunningham. “It is an hour and fifteen minutes away. It is somewhere that would be awesome for him to have the opportunity.”
Transylvania University has expressed some interest. Noah is on their radar.
“I have emailed with Coach (Jordan) Martz,” said Mr. Cunningham. “It was split on two different Saturdays. Noah went to both…I don’t think they have been Division II very long.”
TNU is building their program with both regional talents (KY, TN) and international additions. The assistant coaches at the Nashville school beckoned Sudanese, French, and Kenyan hoopers to don the purple and silver. The composition of the team is uniquely cosmopolitan.
Considering the escalating property value in Nashville, TNU has a nice spacious campus.
“They look good as a program,” said Noah Cunningham. “Their campus is nice.”
The trajectory of the program relies upon the recruiting skills of their assistant coaches. TNU Head Coach Sam Harris, in his 33rd season as a head coach on the collegiate level, helped usher TNU from NAIA to Division II. His stability serves as the backbone to the program.
Blackburn Push
“Blackburn College are Division III and their coach actually expressed interest,” said Mr. Cunningham. “He watched Noah’s video and talked about him being a good shooter, high I.Q.”
The conversation with Blackburn College also included a program presentation of sorts.
“He explained their college and their philosophies of playing,” said Mr. Cunningham. “They want Noah to answer some questions. That has been fairly recent.”
While talent and grades open up doors, things like distance, cost, size, and unfavorable relationships close them. Noah’s father would like him to attend college within a four-hour window of Madisonville, Kentucky.
That window includes southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and southern Ohio. West Virginia pops in there, as well.
Ohio Valley Conference team, Austin Peay came to high school practices.
“They knew Noah and I have emailed them about Noah,” said Mr. Cunningham. “We went to one of their games. We have a personalized email and an invitation to their Elite Camp.”
Austin Peay was in town to evaluate Jaiveon Eaves, Noah’s older teammate. Cunningham and Eaves did visit Austin Peay, along with his entire basketball team, for a Governors basketball exhibition last November.
University of Southern Indiana and Oakland City University (IN) are also expressing interest. USI has Cunningham on their radar, while Oakland City University Head Coach Dr. Mike Sandifar wants to further evaluate.
“I talked to their (head) coach on the phone,” said Mr. Cunningham. “I sent him a DVD. He said he would come watch Noah play in Henderson.”
Oakland City University is located just outside Evansville, Indiana, which is now the hub of the Cunningham operations until August.
Both Noah and Cade (Cunningham) are playing with Pocket City AAU this summer.
Noah’s younger brother Cade dressed varsity, but gained the most playing experience with JV.
“He started freshmen and JV, got a lot of good minutes,” said Mr. Cunningham. “He should have an opportunity to contribute next year.”
Height
It cannot be avoided. The basketball world is prejudiced against shorter players. Noah Cunningham stands 5-foot-11. In order to fairly assess which colleges are legitimate options, PrepHoops.com looked what targeted schools have sub-6-foot players already in their program.
Lindsey Wilson has three players under 6-foot tall. Two of those players (Bryan Wallace, Cameron Morgerson) were born and raised in Kentucky. Two TNU members are 5-foot-11. Two of the Oakland City University Mighty Oaks are 5-foot-10.
Intriguingly, this year Oakland City featured a player from Madisonville, Kentucky, the hometown of Noah.
Evaluation
Cunningham’s two greatest strengths are outside shooting and decision-making. He identifies the most dangerous teammate very quickly, and then usually delivers the basketball accordingly. Also, Cunningham fills up the nets with three-pointers.
With perfect shooting form, Cunningham is very accurate. He also demonstrates strong elevation on every jump shot. This is critical for guards hoping to release their shot over pressure.
“I averaged about six points per game,” said Noah Cunningham. “I really improved dribbling against pressure.”
Cunningham could be a college floor general or an impact scorer off the bench. His strengths suggest he could be a dynamic passer at the DII level, certainly DIII. A few schools could even utilize Cunningham as a volume scorer.
His AAU season will be riveting, as the Noah “The Blonde Bomber” Cunningham helps the esteemed Pocket City 2k17 AAU program.
Tough to say which college he will pick, but with banking on Noah Cunningham you always have a good shot.