Shabazz Muhammad: Why Top Recruit Will Be Overshadowed by Nerlens Noel

ESPNU No. 2 overall recruit Shabazz Muhammad will continue to be overshadowed by No. 1 recruit Nerlens Noel for the entirety of their college careers.

Muhammad, who recently signed with the UCLA Bruins, is an unquestionable talent.

However, Noel, the only player more coveted than Muhammad through the excruciatingly long recruiting process, will continue to steal the spotlight.

The main advantage that Noel has over Muhammad is the programs which they are now a member of.

Noel has committed to Kentucky, a program that is in substantially better shape than UCLA is in now.

The Bruins program was in disarray until Muhammad signed. Coach Ben Howland couldn't even get his team into the NIT last season, and failed to win 20 games for the fourth time as the Bruins' head coach.

Kentucky, on the other hand, dismantled nearly every team they played this past season en route to the program's eighth national championship. They will be losing their two best players to the NBA, but everyone knows that won't bother John Calipari.

Calipari is the definitive king of one-and-done players. Both Muhammad and Noel will most likely play just one season for their respective teams.

One of the biggest factors that goes into Calipari producing NBA-ready talent in just one season is his dribble-motion offense. The offense would have been absolutely perfect for Muhammad, as it focuses on creating lanes for slashing guards by spreading the defense.

Muhammad is a small forward with a shooting guard mentality. He reaches the hoop with ease and dunks pretty much every single time he gets to the hole.

Howland is known as a defensive specialist, focusing his player's efforts more on defense than offense. Defense is the heart and soul of a team, but doesn't get as much recognition as stellar offensive play does. 

Noel will be grabbing headlines in the aggressive Kentucky scheme, putting up highlight-reel blocks leading into highlight-reel dunks. Muhammad will be forced to play gritty man defense under Howland.

The Kentucky program is at the top of the college basketball world right now, while UCLA has had to deal with less than mediocre play, as well as off-the-court issues.

There is no doubt that you'll be hearing much more about Noel than Muhammad when college basketball season rolls around.