If you thought only members of the BBN were glued to their televisions the night of the NBA Draft to see where Nerlens Noel would be drafted, you would be drastically mistaken.
The Boston Globe looks at the effect Noel’s story has had on the Haitian community in Boston and Everett High School.
As the city took note of Nerlens Noel’s new status, Jim Noel tried to absorb just how big an impact his younger brother had made on the city’s Haitian community.
“He’s a big role model for Haitians here. To see a little kid that the whole city helped raise; who has succeeded, just touches everybody’s hearts,” he said.
On draft night, 30 people crowded into Lou Diamonds’ barbershop, where owner Jean Altenor gave Noel his first high-top haircut eight years ago.
“I had goose bumps. I was nervous,” said Altenor, who cut Noel’s hair two weeks ago — a style he refers to as a tight, high-top fade, no Gumby. “He’s the American dream, and also the Haitian dream. He set a good example for all the young kids in the community. They all look up to him, they all love him; a lot of kids are getting high-tops because of him.”
Read “Nerlens Noel now the center of ‘Everett Pride” by clicking here.
