“Former Rice Standout Noah Shelby Set to Elevate KU Basketball After Redshirt Decision”
Noah Shelby, a guard with remaining eligibility from stints at Vanderbilt and Rice, announced his decision to join the Kansas men’s basketball team for the upcoming season. In a post on X, he expressed excitement about becoming part of the @KUHoops family and mentioned his intention to redshirt, preserving two years of eligibility. This strategic move allows the consensus four-star recruit, who was a top-100 prospect in high school in 2022, to refine his skills within KU’s program.
During the 2023-24 season at Rice, Shelby, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 185 pounds, appeared in 31 games, starting one, and averaged 3.9 points per game with a 32.4% three-point shooting rate. His freshman year at Vanderbilt saw limited playing time in 14 games, though he saw increased action toward the end of the season.
Despite receiving offers from various prominent schools such as Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, and Texas, Shelby initially chose Vanderbilt and later transferred to Rice. Notably, KU had also extended a scholarship offer during his time at Texas’ Greenhill School. Shelby shares a connection with KU’s incoming transfer Rylan Griffen, having been teammates on the Team Trae Young AAU squad.
While he won’t compete during the 2024-25 season due to redshirting, Shelby’s presence adds depth to KU’s guard rotation for practice, particularly following Labaron Philon’s recent decommitment. Looking ahead, the McKinney, Texas native could play a significant role in the seasons to come, potentially filling the void left by graduating players like Dajuan Harris Jr. and Zeke Mayo.
Shelby’s decision comes shortly after freshman walk-on Will Thengvall from Wichita committed to KU, further bolstering the team’s roster.
