Early Life
When did you start playing basketball? When did you Realize you wanted to Take it Seriously?
I started playing basketball at a young age, around five years old, because my two older brothers played. I began with house league and quickly moved into rep teams when I was six. Basketball was always part of my life, and my brothers inspired me to keep pushing.
Around grade seven, I joined UPlay Canada, an AAU team, and that’s when I really started to believe in my potential. I realized I could take this sport seriously and pursue it at a higher level. From that point on, I committed to putting in the work.
In high school, I attended Cathedral High School in Hamilton, Ontario, where I played alongside my brother, Eden, who now plays at UNB. A key moment for me came in grade nine when I hit a game-winnin shot in the city championships. That gave me the confidence to know I could succeed at this level.
Grade 10 was a pivotal year—I had a growth spurt and became more athletic, and I really started to believe I could make it in basketball. That summer, I was in the gym every day, working hard with my teammates and brothers. After grade 10, my brother and I transferred to TRC Academy, a prep school that gave me exposure to top-tier basketball. It was an invaluable experience that showed me what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and an Achilles injury, I missed my senior year of high school. Despite those setbacks, schools like Buffalo and George Mason showed interest, and I kept my faith. When Western reached out, I knew it was the right fit. The program and Coach Campbell gave me the freedom to play, and I’m thankful for that opportunity.
My first year at Western was a great experience, playing alongside talented teammates like Tyson Dunn (now at Buffalo) and Sharamer. In my second year, our team made it to the semifinals, just missing nationals. Now, as a leader on the team, I’m working to build something special and improve every day.
We’re now in the final stretch of the season with four games left, sitting at 12-7, and aiming for nationals. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but through it all, my faith has kept me grounded. I give all the credit to God—none of this would be possible without Him. I’m just focused on finishing the season strong and trusting in His plan for me and my team.
How did playing for UPlay help in your development as a basketball player?
Noah played for UPlay, which is arguably one of the best AAU programs in the country.
I was playing for UPlay from about grade six to grade 10. I was really athletic growing up—still am—but when I was a kid, I was a lot more athletic than a lot of kids my age. I lacked some skill, and I feel like UPlay helped with that. It gave me a foundation. I was around basketball players every day, elite coaches, and living that kind of life really showed me how to be a leader and how to be great.
I played with a lot of great players growing up like Josiah Davis, who’s at Niagara, Jamal Meade, and I played with Shaedon Sharpe for a brief time. DJ Jackson as well. Playing with these guys pushed me to adapt to a higher level of play. UPlay definitely helped me develop that mindset. I left after grade 10 to go to Northern Kings, but I’ll always be grateful for my time at UPlay. It was a great program, still the best in the country.
What was the transition like from high school to your first year of college?
Going into college was a bit different for me because I didn’t play for two years before my first season. My last time playing before that was
grade 11, so I had a big gap. Coming into my first year, I was worried I’d be behind or have lost a step, but I took the pressure off myself. My coach let me play freely, so I learned through my mistakes, just played, and asked questions.
My biggest challenge was missing development and playing time, but overall it was a great experience. It was fun and probably the best
experience I could have had. Getting the chance to play again in a system that let me be me helped a lot. I was a six-man that year, and my coach told me to be aggressive and play big, which helped set me up for a better second and third year.
College Basketball
How has your game developed since your first year of college?
I think film has been one of the biggest tools for my development. It lets you see yourself from a different perspective. In my first year, I was moving a bit too fast. I’m still working on figuring things out, but the biggest jump for me has been learning to slow down, understand the game better, and really learn my playbook and teammates. Knowing where my teammates are going and what to do in certain situations makes the game a lot easier now.
I feel like I’m in control now and that’s been a huge part of my success this season
What do you consider the best part of your game and how does it contribute to winning basketball?
My best skill is driving to the paint and finding my teammates. My passing ability pairs really well with my driving, which opens up the floor. A lot of teams try to scout and stop my mid-range, but I don’t think my game is limited to just one thing. I can play in a variety of ways.
My ability to penetrate defenses creates attention that takes pressure off my teammates, and with all the shooters and big men around me,
it makes the game easier. Having good players around me is also a big part of it. I think my ability to drive and pass is what contributes most
to winning basketball.
Who has been your toughest matchup this year?
Some of my toughest matchups this year have been against Taye Donald from Laurier and Dezzayne Mingo, who’s at Marshall now. Those matchups are always competitive, and I look forward to them because I know it’s going to be a fun challenge.
What do you think the ceiling for your team is this year, and what would be a successful season?
The goal this year is to win our division, get that first-round bye, and make it to the finals. We did that last year, and it set us up for a deeper
run. Of course, our ultimate goal is to win the OUA championship. That’s what we’re always competing for.
We have a lot of young guys who are hungry to win, and I think that’s what it takes. A lot of teams have veteran players, but I believe the team that wants it the most will win. We have the right guys to make that happen.
Post-College and Advice
What are your plans after college, and where do you see yourself playing professionally?
After college, my goal is to play professionally, ideally in Europe. I’d love to play in countries like Greece or Germany. Those are the top spots for me, but I’ll take whatever opportunity arises. My goal is to start in the lower divisions and work my way up to the top division in Europe.
What advice do you have for young guards navigating the AAU scene and the recruitment process?
Learn the fundamentals. A lot of kids focus on skill-based stuff, which is fine, but the best guards right now are the ones who’ve mastered the fundamentals—left hand, right hand, footwork, all of that. You can have skill, but it’s the fundamentals that set you apart.
The game’s changing, but having a good jumper and solid fundamentals will take you far. Development is key. Focus on that and continue growing your game.
Who would you say your NBA comparison is?
I’ve been hearing comparisons to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a lot, and I can see the similarities in terms of pace. I’d like to get to that level of
pace in my game. Another comparison I’ve heard is Victor Oladipo, and I can see that too.
