Joakim Noah Defensive Player of the Year. Noah was born in New York City, to French singer and former world No. 3 tennis player Yannick Noah, winner of the French Open in 1983, and Cécilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden and fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 1978. His grandfather Zacharie Noah was a Cameroonian professional football player, winner of the Coupe de France in 1961. Noah lived in Paris, France from 1988 to 1998 and returned to New York City at age 13. He played high school basketball for the United Nations International School, Poly Prep Country Day School and Lawrenceville School. Considered a
Yannick Ngakoue Yannick Ngakoue Yannick Nicolas Ngakoue (born March 31, 1995) is an American football defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland. Ngakoue attended Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., where he was teammates with Eddie Goldman. As a senior, he was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Washington D.C. after recording 17 sacks. Ngakoue was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the fourth best outside linebacker in his class. He committed to the University of Maryland, College Park to play