South Carolina Basketball: Future Gamecock makes HUGE jump in recruiting rankings

South Carolina basketball pledge Trent Noah made a huge jump in the most recent 247Sports recruiting rankings. After spending far too long being undervalued, the sharpshooting wing is now viewed as a 4-star prospect and moved up 38 positions to the #105 spot nationally in 247Sports' latest composite player rankings.

The bump-up for Noah is overdue and well-deserved. As one of the top shooters in the country this past high school season, he led his Harlan County squad to their first-ever appearance in the state championship game in Kentucky's "Sweet Sixteen."

Though Noah is rightfully known for his ability to rise up and knock down shots, he is more than just a shooter. At 6'5"/6'6" and 200 pounds, he has the size to hold up as a wing in the SEC, and he has a nice floor game that should allow him to be a very effective pump-and-drive player. The All-State performer showed plenty of ability to finish at the basket during his high school career, and he isn't afraid to throw down a big dunk in traffic.

Positional versatility is a strength of Noah's, as well, as he can seamlessly play the 2 or 3, and his comfortability with the ball in his hands means he can operate as a secondary ballhandler in certain lineups if needed. His better-than-advertised athleticism and good positional size should give head coach Lamont Paris a nice canvas to work with defensively, so if Noah adjusts well to the college game, there is plenty of reason to expect that he will find a role on the 2024-2025 Gamecocks.

Noah's new 4-star status means that all three South Carolina basketball commitments in the class of 2024 are rated as 4-star prospects by at least one major basketball recruiting outlet. South Carolina native Cam Scott and Finnish forward Okku Federiko join Noah in what is the top recruiting class (according to 247Sports' composite rankings) since 2010.

You can watch some of his film here.