University of Massachusets Athletics
Meet The Minutemen: Noah Fernandes
September 23, 2020 | Men's Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. -- Over the next several weeks, we'll be introducing you to the newest members of the 2020-21 UMass men's basketball team. Today, meet Noah Fernandes, a sophomore guard from Mattapoisett, Mass. and transfer from Wichita State.
On September 16, the NCAA announced that the legislative relief waiver for Fernandes was approved, making him immediately eligible for competition for the 2020-21 season.
"We're very happy for Noah that he will have the opportunity to suit up with us this season," said head coach Matt McCall. "As a Massachusetts native, we know how excited Noah is about playing in his home state, and we're looking forward to having his talent, experience and leadership on the floor this season. We're confident that he will add to the high level of depth already on our roster in 2020-21."
Fernandes transferred to the Minutemen from Wichita State following his freshman season in 2019-20. There he appeared in 21 games, including three starts, averaging 1.4 points in 9.9 minutes of action per game. He posted season highs of seven points on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor in 25 minutes at UCF on Feb. 13 and had a season-high six assists against UT Martin on Nov. 16.
"Noah was one of my favorite players that I watched two summers ago in AAU," McCall said. "I think Noah is a winner, he has tremendous feel at the point guard spot and plays the game with a tremendous amount of passion. His competitiveness, basketball feel and moxie are things you want. I think he's a better scorer than people give him credit for. He shoots it from the perimeter, but you can also put him in a pick-n-roll and he can make the right play. How we want to play offensively, when you can get multiple handlers out there with shooting on the floor, it's going to make you that much harder to guard."
Fernandes is no stranger to the Minuteman roster. He took a prep year in 2018-19 at Woodstock Academy (Conn.) as a member of the Post-Grad Gold Squad with teammates Tre Mitchell, T.J. Weeks, Preston Santos and Ronnie DeGray III, where the team earned the top seed at the National Prep Championship and finished the year 36-2.
Before college, he was a three-star prospect, per ESPN and 247Sports, and rated No. 215 in the Class of 2019 on 247Sports' composite list and No. 23 among point guards. Fernandes played 2018 summer ball for Expressions Elite in EYBL and averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 assists in 21 games, and was an All-Peach Jam Honorable Mention, where he put up 13.8 points, 6.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in five games.
Fernandes is a 2018 graduate of Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., where he played for three seasons. He was a First Team All-NEPSAC (Class A) as a senior, earned ISL all-league honors, and averaged more than 20 points per game in 2017-18 and helped his team the NEPSAC Class A semifinals.
On September 16, the NCAA announced that the legislative relief waiver for Fernandes was approved, making him immediately eligible for competition for the 2020-21 season.
"We're very happy for Noah that he will have the opportunity to suit up with us this season," said head coach Matt McCall. "As a Massachusetts native, we know how excited Noah is about playing in his home state, and we're looking forward to having his talent, experience and leadership on the floor this season. We're confident that he will add to the high level of depth already on our roster in 2020-21."
• Getting cleared to play in '20-21
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) September 23, 2020
• Coach Bergeron's suit game
• The Woodstock Days
• LeBron vs. Celtics in the Finals?
Noah Fernandes (@noahfernandes_) breaks it down in ???????? ?????? ??????????????????, driven by Ford of Northampton#Flagship?? | @FordNorthampton pic.twitter.com/2XdMSi8Asc
Fernandes transferred to the Minutemen from Wichita State following his freshman season in 2019-20. There he appeared in 21 games, including three starts, averaging 1.4 points in 9.9 minutes of action per game. He posted season highs of seven points on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor in 25 minutes at UCF on Feb. 13 and had a season-high six assists against UT Martin on Nov. 16.
"Noah was one of my favorite players that I watched two summers ago in AAU," McCall said. "I think Noah is a winner, he has tremendous feel at the point guard spot and plays the game with a tremendous amount of passion. His competitiveness, basketball feel and moxie are things you want. I think he's a better scorer than people give him credit for. He shoots it from the perimeter, but you can also put him in a pick-n-roll and he can make the right play. How we want to play offensively, when you can get multiple handlers out there with shooting on the floor, it's going to make you that much harder to guard."
Fernandes is no stranger to the Minuteman roster. He took a prep year in 2018-19 at Woodstock Academy (Conn.) as a member of the Post-Grad Gold Squad with teammates Tre Mitchell, T.J. Weeks, Preston Santos and Ronnie DeGray III, where the team earned the top seed at the National Prep Championship and finished the year 36-2.
"I like to read a lot about leadership. Being a PG is more than dribbling over half-court. It starts off the court."
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) September 23, 2020
Time for @noahfernandes_ to raid @CoachMattMcCall's bookshelves!
Part II of ???????? ?????? ??????????????????, driven by @FordNorthampton | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/dBh6DWPXz7
Before college, he was a three-star prospect, per ESPN and 247Sports, and rated No. 215 in the Class of 2019 on 247Sports' composite list and No. 23 among point guards. Fernandes played 2018 summer ball for Expressions Elite in EYBL and averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 assists in 21 games, and was an All-Peach Jam Honorable Mention, where he put up 13.8 points, 6.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in five games.
Fernandes is a 2018 graduate of Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., where he played for three seasons. He was a First Team All-NEPSAC (Class A) as a senior, earned ISL all-league honors, and averaged more than 20 points per game in 2017-18 and helped his team the NEPSAC Class A semifinals.
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