BE360 Roundtable – Why Nerlens Noel should and shouldn’t go to Georgetown

The biggest debate in college basketball will come to an end tonight when Nerlens Noel decides where he will attend college. He will decide between Syracuse, Georgetown and Kentucky during a selection day special on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.

Jimmy Kelley examines why Noel should and shouldn’t go to Syracuse

Okay before we get started I understand that Kentucky is still on the short list of potential suitors for the nation’s top prospect.

Obviously Kentucky is an easy choice with yet another heralded recruiting class centered by Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress. With Ryan Harrow (NC State) becoming eligible next season and Kyle Wiltjer returning, the only piece missing is in the middle for the Tilton star to fill (or Anthony Bennett or Tony Parker).

But Big Blue Nation is easy to sell, this is about why Noel should stay in the northeast. This is the reason why the Everett, Mass. should attend Georgetown University next season.

It’s not Cuse and it’s not UK – That sounds odd at first but here me out. Syracuse’s season was filled with controversy from Bernie Fine to repeatedly violating drug policy. The sanctions, if any may not be huge, but anytime Yahoo! Sports is investigating your program it’s never a good sign. As for UK, the Wildcats are coming off the first national championship since 1998 and BBN will be hungry for a repeat if Noel heads to Lexington. Not saying the pressure will be too much for him, but at Georgetown he will be a part of a great team (returners and incoming freshman D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera) and he can focus on improving and not worried about adding to a trophy case he will only spend one year gazing at.
This leads me to my next point heading to Kentucky is far away from the shadow of Anthony Davis. Once again, not saying this will effect him, but like it or not, he will be compared and over-compared to Davis. At Georgetown he can focus on things he needs to improve on, such as his offense game.
On to point three – Noel is not a great offensive player, he’s good, but not great. And at Georgetown with John Thompson III‘s Princeton style offense, Noel will become a better passer as the offense will go through him. Look we all know Noel will make his money in the NBA by preventing points, not scoring them, but at Georgetown he will develop a better passing game, which will be a big benefit heading to the pros. He will improve on playing with his back to the basket, but he’s already a willing pass. This system will only improve it.
There’s no secret that Georgetown has a history of producing talented big men: Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and more recently (under JT3) Roy Hibbert and Greg Monroe. JT3 knows how to improve a big man. Just look at Henry Sims. Entering his senior season, Sims didn’t average more than 14 minutes a game. As a senior the 6-foot-10 senior led the team in assists (3.5) , was second in rebounds (6.2) and third in scoring (11.6).

These are just the pros, of course they’re are cons to heading to D.C.

Noel will, not might, will draw comparisons to Anthony Davis if goes to UK whether we like it or not. We have to mention the same about Noel being compared to Ewing. Noel already draws comparisons to Ewing based on geographical convenience. Ewing was from Cambridge, Noel was from Everett.
Syracuse and Kentucky are in better position for a Final Four. If Noel wants to follow what Davis did and win a national title, he is in better position to do so at either Cuse or UK.