Javi’s claim to fame was his NCAA record setting 10 pts in 23 seconds vs Arizona State (video below), but Gonzalez actually had a pretty decent career for the Wolfpack and has parlayed that into a solid professional career.
Since graduating from NC State in 2011, Javi Gonzalez has played most of his professional seasons in the BSN (a league out of Puerto Rico). Now, the scrappy 6’0 guard will be heading to Israel where he will play for a team named Maccabi Ashdod.
Gonzalez came to State as a late addition at PG in 2007 and was quickly thrown into the fire with an injury to starting PG Farnold Degand. He ended up being a major player and at times a pretty decent scorer for a Wolfpack team that struggled mightily on offense.
Javi only averaged 6.4 pts, 3 assists, and 1 steal per game in his career, but he did have a pretty solid Junior season where he scored nearly 10 pts and 4 assist per game.
Last season in Puerto Rico Javi was back at it, putting up similar stats. He averaged 10pts and 5 assist per game for Cangrejeros de Santurce (the team he’s been with for the last 3 years).
Let’s take a moment to remember some of Javi’s highlight moments:
Former NC State Guard Terquavion Smith earned a spot on the 2023-24 NBA G-League All-Rookie Team.
Smith averaged 22.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game for the Delaware Blue Coats. What’s crazy, is that he only started in 3 of the 36 games he played in. With that being said, he averaged 30.7 minutes per game. Smith shot 35.6% from three.
As a 2-way player, Smith also played 16 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 3.3 points in 5.3 minutes per game. He shot 37.1% from three.
Former NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson had a Top-30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday. Wilson is the first Linebacker the Steelers have brought in.
Updated Steelers visit tracker:
Interesting to note that Pittsburgh only met with one LB for a pre-draft visit: Payton Wilson. Huge injury history, but a great player (and athlete) when healthy.
The Pittsburgh #Steelers held a top 30 visit with #NCState LB Payton Wilson.
Wilson, at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, is the first linebacker to be brought in for a pre-draft visit by the team. He’s expected to be drafted in the second round. pic.twitter.com/fVxjVhQArA
Wilson has the length, movement ability, IQ and tape of a first-round linebacker. What will likely keep him from being drafted on Day 1 is his injury history and age. If healthy, he can be a starting inside linebacker in any defense. (PFF)
Will someone take Wilson in the 1st round? Will he be a 2nd round pick? If he slips past that, that’s just stupid.
Horne is trying to become the first Wolfpack player to be drafted since Dennis Smith Jr. was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 6th pick in the 1st Round.
While Horne might not currently be projected to be drafted, he is trying to change that tune at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament which begins tomorrow.
Horne is a special player, and genuinely possesses the skill set to compete at the next level. Whether he is drafted, or signs a 2-way contract, what he put on tape this year warrants a chance.
Last season as a Senior, Jackson had 40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 12 games for the Wolfpack. His Run Defense grade on PFF was 80.6, ranking 4th on the team.
According to current projections, Jackson projects to be taken on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, or picked up as an Undrafted Free Agent.