Athletes Of The Week: Noah Hancock

Often in sports, players with either incredible talent or a tremendous work ethic do well.

Either their natural ability or strong desire to be the best launches them to solid success. But when that authentic gift and that genuine relentlessness are paired together, that’s when truly impressive student-athletes are born.

In the case of Goldsboro senior Noah Hancock, his coaches know that he has an exceptional student-athlete.

Hancock is a tremendous soccer player, but he also plays basketball, football, and baseball. Regardless of the sport, he always finds ways to contribute, and his teammates love playing with him.

Outside of sports Hancock is involved in a couple of extracurricular activities.

“I’m part of the econ club, and we go to a competition in Charlotte every year,” Hancock said.

For those seniors who have played with him for years, his hard work is nothing new. Hancock said he started playing sports at a young age. His father played soccer and helped instill in Hancock a passion for the game.

Hancock’s primary sport is soccer, but Goldsboro does not have a boys’ soccer team this season. Hancock said he was disappointed not to play his favorite sport, but he is thankful to play any sports this season.

“We didn’t have enough people come out, and that was unfortunate, but I’ve really enjoyed basketball here,” Hancock said. “It’s been great.”

When he got to high school, Hancock quickly rose through the ranks. With the coaching staff’s help, he got better in no time, and he started on varsity his freshman year.

As a sophomore, he scored 10 goals, and Hancock was one of the most dominant players in the East Central 2A Conference during his junior season, scoring 21 goals to go along with 18 assists.

Hancock, who wants to play soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also plays for the Goldsboro Strike Eagles.

“I’m really blessed to have that opportunity to play with the Strike Eagles,” Hancock said.

Hancock works equally as hard on the basketball court. He was the Cougars junior varsity team during his first two years. He made the varsity roster as a junior, and now as a senior, he is in the starting lineup and a team captain.

As a senior captain, Hancock is doing his best to make success as contagious and consistent as possible.

The Cougars’ second-leading rebounder, Hancock’s intelligence and grit, separates him from some other players.

“I enjoy being a senior and being a captain,” Hancock said. “It’s a great group of guys.”

Hancock is hoping Goldsboro can make another playoff run this season. The Cougars have the potential for a playoff run, but no matter how it ultimately fares, Hancock enjoys spending time with teammates.

And this season may have its difficult moments, as evidenced by the late start because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in every sport he plays, Hancock will help the team in any way.

“This season is a lot different. We’re known for our fans and how loud it can be in the Cougar Den and how intense it can be,” Hancock said. “Having that taken away has been difficult, but our bench and our coaches have done a really good job of uplifting us and screaming for us.”