Prospect Spotlight: Noah Charles (2020)
The importance of having a point guard that can impact the game in many different ways has become one of the top priorities when creating the blueprint for a basketball team. As a rising sophomore, Noah Charles is learning how to become just that.
In the past week, Charles made the decision to transfer from Winston Churchill High School to Glenelg Country Day School.
“The main reason I wanted to transfer was because Glenelg offers a good STEM program,” Charles told PrepHoops. “Also, they play in the MIAA A Conference and you have to play against the best to get to the next level.”
Charles starred for the junior varsity team at Churchill last year averaging 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds before getting pulled up to varsity after mid-way through the season. On varisty, Charles got to play some minutes here and there, but it was more for him to get a taste of what that level brought to the table.
“I have a high basketball IQ,” Charles said about his overall game. “I have a good jumpshot and being the point guard, I try to communicate to my team on both ends. A point guard is an extension of the coach on the floor making sure all of the players are where they need to be.”
Noah (Churchill) hit clutch FTs to seal the W over Blake 58-50. POG Noah Charles. Finished w/ 20 pts. pic.twitter.com/d51JGCZ13v
— Maryland Elite (@mdelitebball) June 28, 2017
The 5’9 guard is playing AAU for Mid-Atlantic Select, which is a program that invests a ton of time into player development. With Charles, it’s no different. To prepare for his sophomore season at a new school, Charles is working on his rebounding, leadership on the floor, and passing ability. Again, all skills that make him a much more versatile and impactful player from the point guard position.
Seeing Charles play a handful of times, he is a good decision-maker with the ball. He knows when to initiate sets in the halfcourt and when to push the ball to take advantage of a mismatch or transition opportunity. While he doesn’t have a score-first mentality as a floor general, when his number is called, he can put the ball in the basket consistently whether it be from three, off the dribble floaters, or pull ups coming off ball screens.
No schools have contacted Charles yet. He carries a 3.4 GPA and puts a lot of energy into getting the job done in the classroom. The hope is for Charles to make the varsity team this season and contribute consistently. He’s vastly improved over the past couple of months, so if he stays focused on the task at hand, it’s certainly a possibility for that to play out.