When Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Feb. 12 loss to Florida, it seemed like bad luck and bad timing. The 6-foot-10 shot-blocking sensation, considered a probable No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, was lost for the year because of one faulty step, one fluky moment.
But a largely forgotten incident early in Noel's high school career could raise questions about potential structural issues with his leg, and whether he risked further damage by returning from that injury too quickly.
Five games into his sophomore season at Everett (Mass.) High, Noel fractured a growth plate in his left knee and missed the rest of the year. John DiBiaso, his former coach, said in a phone interview that doctors told Noel to rest the knee through the summer. But, DiBiaso said, Noel started playing with his travel team in March at the urging of his advisors.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.