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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Offers 4-Star PG Jalen Cone

Published

5 years ago

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Truthfully, I have no idea why it took so long for this to happen.

NC State’s Kevin Keatts went and watched 4-Star 2020 Point Guard Jalen Cone (5’9″/163) workout today, and left him with an offer.

Cone has been on NC State’s campus numerous times, and attended the Virginia Tech (WHY GOD?) this season.

He’s ranked as the #55 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class according to ESPN, and the #3 player in the state of North Carolina. 247Sports ranks him as the #11 point guard.

Here’s the catch.

Cone has been offered in both the 2019 and 2020 class.

Earlier this month Cone revealed that not only could he potentially reclassify to the 2019 class, but that he was seriously considering it.

“Things are starting to pick up a little bit more but with the news that some colleges are offering me to come early because of some guys entering the draft and others not coming back,” Cone said about a potential move into the 2019 class. “They need somebody to fill the point guard position so things are really starting to pick up.”

“Really, it will be all about what is best for me and figuring out if I need another year of high school to mature my game more but if it is good for me to go to college and play now or even redshirt, then that would be the option I would choose,” Cone said. “If I do it, I would have to decide very soon so I would have to look at what the best fit is for me and to see how long the coaches are going to be there. I don’t want to go early to college and then they leave after I am there for just one year.”

Rivals

Tennessee was the first school to offer Cone as a 2019 recruit, and Texas A&M, Providence, Boston College, and Ole Miss followed suit.

Out of all those schools, NC State is the only North Carolina school, and Cone plays for Walkertown High School (Kernersville, NC). He averaged 25.7 points and 6.6 assists for the Wolfpack.

Yeah, you read that right. Cone’s high school mascot is the Wolfpack. Colors: Red, White and Black. It’s downright comical…or maybe providential.

NC State technically only has one scholarship left right now for 2019. Valparaiso Graduate Transfer Center Derrik Smits took an official visit this past weekend, and Charleston Southern Graduate Transfer Guard Christian Keeling is taking an Official Visit on the weekend of May 3rd.

Obviously there isn’t room for Smits, Keeling, and Cone, or even two of the three at this point.

Small hunch?

Maybe Keatts and crew has a good idea that either 4-star signee Jalen Lecque plans on staying in the NBA Draft, or Senior Point Guard Markell Johnson won’t be returning.

In my opinion, Cone isn’t a player that you take simply if Johnson or Lecque aren’t in Raleigh next year. Cone is a player that you get on your roster no matter what it takes, no matter the recruiting class.

Cone is a rare talent. He is an elite scorer, possesses filthy handles, and has a good handle on Damian Lillard’s side-step jumper. Don’t let the 5’9″ height concern you. He had a 41-inch vertical two years ago, and will put someone on a poster in a second.

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Basketball Recruiting

2025 4-Star SF Jackson Keith was at the NC State vs. UNC Game

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3 months ago

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January 10, 2024

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Earlier today, I mentioned Wolfpack prospects 4-Star 2025 Power Forward Sadiq White Jr., 4-Star 2025 Point Guard Jordan Lowery, and 2026 Point Guard Kobe Edwards would be visiting for the NC State vs. UNC game.

4-Star 2025 Small Forward Jackson Keith (6’5″/175) was also in attendance.


Keith is a consensus 4-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, with Rivals ranking him as the #53 overall player in the class. The Southern High (Durham, NC) standout is ranked as the #2 player in the state of North Carolina in the 2025 class by ESPN.

Keith holds offers from NC State, Wake Forest, Mississippi St., Illinois, SMU, Virginia Tech, LSU and others.

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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Recruits that Will Be in Attendance for the UNC Game Tonight

Published

3 months ago

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January 10, 2024

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NC State (11-3) will host #7 UNC (11-3) tonight in PNC Arena, and they also will be hosting a couple of recruiting prospects.

4-Star 2025 Power Forward Sadiq White Jr. and 4-Star 2025 Point Guard Jordan Lowery both confirmed with me that they will be in attendance.



White, who plays for Myers Park (Charlotte) is the consensus #1 player in the state of North Carolina in the 2025 recruiting class, and he’s 4 spots away from being a 5-star prospect according to ON3. Lowery plays for Winston-Salem Christian School, and is ranked as the #7 overall player in the state of North Carolina in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

White holds offers from NC State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Wake Forest, LSU, FSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Georgetown, Ohio State and others. Lowery holds offers from NC State, TCU, Virginia Tech, SMU, Oklahoma St., Kansas St. St. Louis and others.

2026 Point Guard Kobe Edwards also told me he will be in attendance.


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Basketball Recruiting

NC State is 1 of the Schools 4-Star PG Kayden Mingo is Hearing from the Most

Published

3 months ago

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January 6, 2024

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4-Star 2025 Point Guard Kayden Mingo (6’1″/160) stated that NC State is one of the schools most frequently reaching out to him, along with Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Cal and Old Dominion.

Despite the Wolfpack’s interest in Mingo, they haven’t offered him yet. Mingo currently holds offers from Cal, Penn State, Saint Louis, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Rivals and ESPN both rank Mingo as a 4-Star prospect, with Rivals ranking him as the #70 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class.

Mingo plays for Long Island Lutheran in New York, which is one of the top teams in the country. He is currently the Nike EYBL Scholastic’s leading scorer (20ppg).

 

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Basketball Recruiting

Highlights of NC State 2024 Signee Paul McNeil from the John Wall Holiday Invitational

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3 months ago

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January 6, 2024

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NC State 2024 signee Paul McNeil Jr. showcased his talent at the 2023 John Wall Holiday Invitational at the end of the year. Below are highlights from his first two games.

In Richmond’s 77-62 win over Jordan in their first game of the invitational, McNeil had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

In Game 2, McNeil had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists in Richmond’s 53-56 loss to Northwood.

In Game 3, McNeil had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in Richmond’s 68-84 loss to Cannon. I couldn’t find any highlights from this particular game.

Through 11 games this season, McNeil is averaging 29.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He is shooting 52% from the field and 35% from three.

 

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