Nerlens Noel: Why Kentucky Is the Best School for Top Recruit

Nerlens Noel, the No. 1 basketball recruit in America according to ESPNU, should choose to play with the Kentucky Wildcats next season because head coach John Calipari will make sure he's well prepared for the NBA.

The Tilton School (NH) star is 6'10" with incredible defensive skills. He also has a high level of athleticism. With Calipari's ability to develop big men into high lottery picks, Noel should choose Kentucky to play as a freshman.

Calipari has a strong history of developing big men into very good NBA players. At UMass, he helped Marcus Camby develop into a strong defensive player and also become a reliable scorer in the low-post. Camby is still in the NBA today.

The Wildcats coach also helped DeMarcus Cousins develop into one of the best big men in the country two years ago, and that helped Cousins get drafted No. 5 overall by the Sacramento Kings.

This season, Calipari has helped player of the year candidate Anthony Davis become the top NBA prospect in the nation with his fantastic play at both ends of the floor. Davis is the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in America, and only a serious injury between now and June's draft is going to change that.

Noel is a lot like Davis.

His ability to block shots is extraordinary and his defensive abilities are already elite. Also like Davis, Noel needs to get stronger and keep improving his offensive game, but those two areas will eventually get better over time. You can't expect an 18-year-old kid to have an NBA body.

Not only will Calipari's strong teaching skills and ability to work with young high school stars help Noel, but the amount of players leaving the Wildcats this season for the NBA could open up a ton of playing time for the young recruit.

Davis, Terrence Jones and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are all expected to leave Kentucky for the draft, which means there will be spots in the starting lineup up for grabs next season.

With his amazing potential and spectacular defensive talents, there is no reason for Noel to snub Kentucky. 

With coach Calipari, Noel will go deep into the NCAA Tournament next season and could easily become the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Main photo found here.

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Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report