Noel is a special shooter for his size. The 6-foot-7 forward has continued to get stronger and more athletic during the past year, but it’s his shooting ability from three that has persisted and allowed him to be effective at a super high level. He has a SUPER quick release—he’s able to catch high and keep the ball high before shooting—but he does so while making a high percentage of shots. He has good range, and his size usually means bigs aren’t able to get a hand up or close out to him quickly enough to stop an attempt. Noel will play an important role for Milton this season and will be able to get up TONS of threes with all of the creators he’s playing with.

Noel has put together a productive spring and, perhaps more importantly, has been remarkably consistent every time I have seen him. You know what you are going to get when he steps onto the floor, and that reliability is one of his biggest strengths. His shooting ability is his calling card, as he is a legitimate threat to stretch the floor and make defenses pay whenever he is left open from beyond the arc. hat also stands out is the edge he plays with. Noel has a noticeable chip on his shoulder and competes with a level of toughness that shows up in a variety of ways throughout the game. He is not afraid to get in the mix, battle for loose balls, or do some of the little things that help teams win. Offensively, I liked how aggressive he was coming off ball screens looking for scoring opportunities, putting pressure on defenders and forcing them to stay attached. He sets screens away from the ball, keeps the offense moving, and does not allow the ball to stick in his hands. When teammates are open, he is willing to make the extra pass and keep possessions flowing. One area I would like to see him continue to improve is his foot speed, which could help him become even more effective on both ends of the floor. I would imagine a number of high-academic Division three programs will be hoping he slips through the cracks because he possesses many of the traits coaches covet in winning players. 

Noel is huge (and continuing to get bigger) but hasn’t lost a shred of his shooting ability. He gets off shots extremely quickly and with excellent accuracy, and he makes them off the move and off the dribble. What impressed me most from this weekend, though, was Noel’s willingness to mix it up on the inside and finish in the paint—he looks like he’s getting stronger and more comfortable in his body, and that’ll pay dividends in terms of his ability to use his physical tools and compete with bigs. Noel could certainly play scholarship ball if he gets stronger and more athletic as time goes on, but I bet the high level D3 schools will be on him early and wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up there.

Liked Noel’s toughness fighting back through an injury during the weekend. He showed that he is an offensive threat playing inside and out on the offensive side of the floor. He has a good length. He was in driving and passing lanes to get steals.

I’ve always been high on Noel as a long-term prospect, and it looks like it’s finally starting to come together for him. On the Magic’s HGSL squad, the 6-foot-7 primarily fills the shooter role, and he does it quite well. He has a super quick release, but he’s also able to make shots on the move or off the dribble. When paired with his size and length, this makes him a phenomenal floor spacer. But Noel is also getting stronger and tougher—he delivered some blows in the paint offensively and showed better finishing chops than I’ve seen in the past. Very bright future ahead for Noel, who should be a key part of Milton Academy’s rotation next season and is in an awesome spot to develop with the Magic.

+12 (#138 to #126)

Noel, a forward out of Milton Academy in Massachusetts, rose 12 spots in this update and now sits at #126 overall. Noel has grown to about 6’7″ and operates as one of the better stretch forwards in the region. He makes the right play on the offensive end of the floor more often than not, showing some versatility as a decision maker, passer, and guy who can both roll hard to the rim or pop into space out of ball screens. He rebounds it on the defensive end of the floor and also offers some rim protection. But above all, his shooting is a standout skill.