NEWPORT, R.I. - As evidenced by his blockbuster acquisition by the 76ers during the 2013 NBA draft, Nerlens Noel came into the league with amazing defensive skills, unparalleled athleticism, and immediate hype.
But in the subsequent two years, critics have voiced concerns about his ability as a power forward and are wondering whether he's just a phenomenal shot blocker who struggles to shoot the ball.
And that has brought Noel to Newport, R.I., a picturesque seaside city with a population of 24,027 on Aquidneck Island in Newport County. Located 70 miles south of Boston, Newport is known as a New England summer resort and for the Newport Mansions.