Noah Vonleh

BIOGRAPHY

Noah Vonleh was born on August 24, 1995 and today is a recognized and professional basketball player from America. He currently plays for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), demonstrating his talent and team spirit on the court.

Vonleh’s journey to professional basketball began at Haverhill High School in Haverhill, Massachusetts where he showcased his basketball prowess. Realising his potential, he later transferred to New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire in 2011 for a more competitive environment.

An athlete through and through, Vonleh didn’t just make a mark on the court but also academically, when he repeated his sophomore year at New Hampton, demonstrating his commitment to both his education and his sport. In his early years, between 2011 to 2012, he managed to stand out by averaging 16 points and nine rebounds per game. Prior to the 2012-13 season, he reclassified back to the class of 2013, and with relentless determination, he went on to average 17 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists per game as a senior. For his unmatched tryst with the sport, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors.

Making mature decisions early in his career, Vonleh signed a letter of intent to play for Indiana University on November 10, 2012. Even though he had offers from prestigious universities such as Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA, and Ohio State, he found the offerings from Indiana University, the then No. 1 team in the country, to be the most suitable for his basketball career.

During his short stint at University level basketball, Vonleh still managed to make waves in the field. In his lone season at Indiana, he was bestowed with the crown of Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was placed in the third team of All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. In a total of 30 games, he held an average of 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 26.5 minutes per game.

Choosing his own path and timing, Vonleh declared for the NBA draft on April 3, 2014, leaving behind his final three years of college eligibility to pursue competitive sports. His life as a professional took off when, on June 26, 2014, he was picked with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. After a brief set back due to surgery to repair a sports hernia, he was back on the court giving life to the Pistons and the Raptors with his gameplay.

Making moves in the professional basketball world, Vonleh went on to accept a trade offer from the Portland Trail Blazers alongside Gerald Henderson for Nicolas Batum on June 24, 2015. In November, he started for the first time against his former team, going on to score a season-high 11 points against the LA Lakers in January 2016. With his innate talent and strategic moves, Vonleh proved to be an invaluable asset for the team.

Vonleh further reinforced his abilities on the court with Portland Trail Blazers, transforming his average of 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds to 6.7 points on 57.5% shooting and 7.2 rebounds after former center Jusuf Nurkić joined the team in February 2017.

After the Blazers, his journey continued to take him to different teams like the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and culminating his NBA career with Chicago Bulls, before finding a new challenge in the Chinese Basketball Association. On September 18, 2021, he signed with the Shanghai Sharks marking a new chapter in his basketball journey.

Off the basketball court, Vonleh continues to be surrounded by the world of basketball through his family. He is the son of Samuel Vonleh and Renell Kumeh and has two siblings, both sharing his passion for the sport. His sister Aaronette Vonleh is a college basketball player at U. Arizona and U. Colorado from 2021 to 2024 and his brother Samnell Vonleh is also deeply involved in the sport.

In the journey of his exciting and international professional basketball career, Noah Vonleh is not just a name, but a force to be reckoned with. The love and passion for sport runs in his family, and he is a true example of turning a passion into a profession. His successful career is a testament to his dedication, skill and perseverance which make him stand out not just on the court but off it too.