Nerlens Noel: Top Prep Basketball Player Can't Go Wrong with Any of His Choices

If you're Nerlens Noel, the No. 1 high school prospect in the class of 2012 according to Scout.com, and you have your pick of scholarship offers from the top programs in college basketball, then, really, there is no "wrong" choice.

Especially when your final list of destinations consists of Georgetown, Syracuse and Kentucky. All three programs boast decorated records of success on the national level, along with top-notch coaches who've prepared more than their fair share of stars for NBA success.

Which, for the big kid from Massachusetts with the flat-top fade, comes first and foremost.

At Georgetown, Noel would have the opportunity to be next in a long line of great big men to rock with the Hoyas, joining the likes of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Roy Hibbert and Greg Monroe, the latter two of whom are currently shining in the NBA after developing under the tutelage of John Thompson III.

JT3 may not be the "sexiest" name in college coaching, but the guy is certainly no slouch, especially after guiding a depleted Hoyas squad to a fourth-place finish in the Big East this season, and he would likely work wonders with a star like Noel at his disposal.

Not that Jim Boeheim would let Noel's considerable talents go to waste at Syracuse. The Orange may well have hoisted the NCAA Tournament title on Monday night had star center Fab Melo not been ruled academically ineligible prior to the start of March Madness. After all, the 'Cuse claimed the top spot in the Big East during the regular season, spent significant time at No. 1 in both polls and nearly cracked the Final Four even without their big man in the middle.

Plug Noel into the middle, and the Orange would find themselves right back in the national title hunt.

Of course, Boeheim won't necessarily be left high and dry if Noel opts to go elsewhere, not with another five-star center (the 6'9", 275-pound DaJuan Coleman) already committed to the 'Cuse.

And, surely, John Calipari wouldn't mind picking up Noel if the Big East proves to be a little too close to home for him. He could certainly use another superstar in the middle after likely losing All-Everything big man Anthony Davis to the NBA Draft.

That is, if Cal is keen to defend his and Kentucky's national championship.

Noel is no Davis clone (who is?), but he's not all that far off. Like Davis, Noel is a long, athletic shot-blocker with a surprisingly deft passing touch and a unique 'do who still has some work to do in the weight room. Noel isn't quite as well-versed at scoring the ball as Davis is, but he wouldn't have to be at UK, not alongside fellow five-stars Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin (not to mention potential returnees Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb).

With the Wildcats, Noel would have the opportunity to compete for an NCAA title while putting himself in position to be the fourth out of six No. 1 picks in the NBA Draft to have been tutored by Calipari.

So, really, whichever way you slice it, Noel's got some excellent options on the table, the sort of options that should put him in fine position to strike it rich in 2013.

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