Connect with us

Pack in the Pros

Inside Look: A Conversation with Scott Wood

Published

10 years ago

on

(‘Inside Look’ is our newest column written by former Wolfpack manager Tyler White. Tyler attended NC State from 2009 to 2013 and worked with the basketball team as a student manager and as the head student manager his senior year under Coach Gottfried’s staff.)

Little John’s Coliseum. 7.5 seconds left in the game. N.C. State down by 2. A familiar play is drawn up for the all-time leader of made 3-pointers in N.C. State history, Scott Wood. The ball is inbounded to Lorenzo Brown while Scott lures his defender baseline. Hooking back around a Richard Howell screen, Scott is open for one of his 334 career makes from deep. As the ball clears the net the bench erupts-including myself. Seriously, check the video. State would go on to win this game by one.

When Scott arrived on campus in 2009 I don’t think many people expected him to have many all-time records under his belt by graduation. Hanging up his jersey after four years on the N.C. State roster, however, Scott had made his mark in the history books. At the end of his college basketball career he achieved the following bests at N.C. State:
• Minutes Played (4,318)
• Games Played (138)
• Games Started (136)
• 3-Pointers Attempted (809)
• 3-Pointers Made (334)
• Free Throw % (88.5)
• Free Throw % Single Season (91.4)

Scott and I joined the Wolfpack family at the same time. As we spent countless hours together in practice, on road trips, and at games, we became friends and still keep in touch to this day. As many of you know, Scott is currently playing for UCAM Murcia in the Spain ACB league. I recently had the opportunity to ask him what he has been up to, how he is adjusting to professional basketball, and life in a new culture.

What’s your favorite part about playing basketball professionally?
Not having to wear a suit and sitting at a desk from 9 to 5, just not my style. Plus I get to play the sport I love for a living.

What’s been the biggest adjustment living in Spain opposed to living in the US?
Just being away from my family and girlfriend. They came to a lot of games at State. Also not having any American restaurants, my favorites are B-Dubs, Red Lobster, and Chili’s.

What are the fans like?
The fans are actually great! Not nearly as many as we had at the PNC, but they too are loud and rambunctious.

What’s been your most memorable game to date professionally? Why?
Bilbao. Didn’t play well at all but hit a game winner.

How would you describe your teammates? Have they accepted you?
Yeah I would say so; it was bumpy at the start because I haven’t played with any of the guys before, not knowing their strengths and what their tendencies were. At state I played with the same core for most of my 4 years. My transition has been difficult but a fun one.

Learned Spanish?
Si Senor

Do you plan on coming back to Raleigh?
I’m going to try. It’s going to be a busy summer with training and visiting family.

Will you take part in any of the summer pick up games at the Dail Center? What former players do you want to team up with?
I don’t think I want to play with anyone; I just want to beat them! They all talk a lot of trash, so I want to win so I don’t end up in Twitter talk…Cough Cough Julius Hodge.

What was your favorite thing about playing at N.C. State?Everything. I enjoyed the classes that were after 11:15 as well as all the friendships that I developed. The absolute best college fans on earth. The post game interviews….” Has your wife every cheated on you??” The ups and downs that have helped make me a better person as well as a better athlete. Our coaching staff which taught me so much on and off the court. Personally I wouldn’t trade my experience at N.C. State for anything. It was wonderful.

Related Topics:
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Pack in the Pros

Former NC State All-American SS Trea Turner Named NL Player of the Week

Published

2 days ago

on

April 24, 2024

By

Former NC State All-American Shortstop Trea Turner was named the National League Player of the Week last week.

  • The 30-year-old hit .462 (12-for-26) with a home run, four RBI, five doubles, a walk, 10 runs scored, a stolen base and a .481 on-base percentage in six games last week.
  • The Florida native led the Majors in runs scored; tied for the NL lead in doubles and extra-base hits (6); ranked third in slugging (.769), OPS (1.250) and hits (12); and ranked fourth in total bases (20).
  • The two-time All-Star recorded four straight multi-hit games from Tuesday through Saturday, putting together three-hit games on Wednesday against Colorado and Thursday against Chicago (AL). It was the third time in his Phillies’ tenure and eighth time in his career that he had at least four-straight multi-hit games.
  • The 2019 World Series Champion has hits in 10 straight games since April 11th, batting .429 (18-for-42) with two homers, six RBI, six doubles, two walks, 12 runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.169 OPS during the stretch. He has reached in each of his last 13 games since April 8th, batting .434/.483/.660 over the stretch.
  • The North Carolina State product stole home on Sunday against the White Sox, marking his 40th consecutive stolen base since September 6, 2022 when he was a member of the Dodgers. His current streak surpassed Jimmy Rollins for the fourth-longest all-time and is now tied with Hall of Famer Tim Raines for the third-longest streak in Major League history. Next on the list is Ichiro Suzuki, who swiped 45 straight bases from April 29, 2006 through May 16, 2007, and Vince Coleman, who stole a Major League record 50 straight bases from September 18, 1988 through July 26, 1989. (MLB)

Turner was a 2-time All-American at NC State. In 2012, Turner was named 3rd Team All-American by NCBWA, and in 2013 he was named 2nd Team by Collegiate Baseball, and 3rd Team by NCBWA and Baseball America.

Turner’s 113 career stolen bases at NC State are the most in school history.

Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1st Round with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft.

Continue Reading

Pack in the Pros

NC State’s Payton Wilson & Dylan McMahon’s 2024 Draft Projections

Published

2 days ago

on

April 24, 2024

By

The 2024 NFL Draft is 1 day away. Where does NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson and Center Dylan McMahon project to be drafted?

PFF

Payton Wilson – 1st Round – 29th Overall Pick – Indianapolis Colts

It’s a cliché to go “best athlete available” for the Colts, but Payton Wilson certainly ticked that box at the NFL scouting combine. Wilson was exceptional in his final season at NC State, earning grades above 75.0 in all three facets of defense, led by his 90.0 coverage grade with three interceptions and four forced incompletions.

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 214th Overall Pick – Cincinnati Bengals

Sporting News

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 38th Overall Pick – Tennessee Titans

Dylan McMahon – 5th Round – 175th Overall Pick – New Orleans Saints

Walter Football

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 42nd Overall Pick – Houston Texans

CBS Sports

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 43rd Overall Pick – Atlanta Falcons

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 182nd Overall Pick – Tennessee Titans

The Athletic 

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 56th Overall Pick – Dallas Cowboys

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 232nd Overall Pick – Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy Pros

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 66th Overall Pick – Arizona Cardinals

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 55th Overall Pick – Green Bay Packers

NFL.com

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 80th Overall Pick – Cincinnati Bengals

Dylan McMahon – 4th Round – 112th Overall Pick – Carolina Panthers

ESPN

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 81st Overall Pick – Seattle Seahawks

Wilson has an early-round grade based strictly on his game tape, but durability concerns could drop him to this range — or even later. He had 130 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions last season.

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 247th Overall Pick – Houston Texans

Pro Football Network

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 83rd Overall Pick – Los Angeles Rams

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 205th Overall Pick – Detroit Lions

Continue Reading

Pack in the Pros

Former NC State G Terquavion Smith Earns a Spot on the 2023-23 NBA G-League All-Rookie Team

Published

7 days ago

on

April 19, 2024

By

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.

Continue Reading

Pack in the Pros

NC State LB Payton Wilson Visited with the Steelers Yesterday

Published

1 week ago

on

April 17, 2024

By

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.

Wilson has already had Top-30 visits with the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers.

PFF ranks Wilson as the #1 Linebacker in the 2024 Draft, and #26 on their Big Board.

1. LB PAYTON WILSON, NC STATE

PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 26

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.

 

 

Continue Reading