Nerlens Noel, Scout.com’s No. 1 basketball recruit in the nation and the jewel of Kentucky’s top-ranked 2012 class, reportedly is taking summer classes at Everett (Mass.) High to boost his grade-point average to the NCAA standard.
According to a Boston Herald report, Noel’s courses began last week and run until the first week of August. Noel, who is from Everett, played his first two years at the local high school before leaving to attend Tilton (N.H.) School.
Wildcats coach John Calipari reportedly is aware of Noel’s summer classes and doesn’t anticipate any eligibility issues for the explosive 6-foot-10 center, who originally was part of the 2013 class but reclassified to 2012.
“Since he reclassified, he had to do a few more academic things and he’s finishing school,” Calipari told ESPN.com. “We only have one summer session (to work the team out).”
Noel is one of four highly-regarded freshmen — along with Alex Poythress, Archie Goodwin and Willie Cauley — expected to help Kentucky try to repeat as national champion in 2012-13. Some early projections list Noel as a potential top-two NBA draft pick in 2013 should he go the one-and-done route.
