The University of Kentucky announced Wednesday that star center Nerlens Noel is out for the season with a torn ACL.
The news isn't totally shocking after watching Noel go down in a horrific heap last night in the game against Florida. He was screaming and in excruciating pain.
At times like these, my first thoughts go out to him and his family. Noel was looking at being, potentially, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft and this news not only ends his season but, at least in the short term, affects his NBA draft stock as well. He has put in so much work this year and by all accounts, is a great young man and I'm sure this news has been devastating to him personally.
I spoke with a number of NBA GMs and scouts last night and this morning about how an ACL tear would affect Noel's draft stock. The good news is that players can completely recover from ACL tears and the injury (assuming it's not more serious than an ACL tear) should not affect his long-term status. The bad news is that all of them expressed reservations about drafting Noel with the No. 1 pick given the injury.
In the wake of Greg Oden, NBA GMs are squeamish about making a mistake with the No. 1 pick -- especially with medical red flags.
I think I can say, with some certainty, that this ends his quest of being the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft.
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