NC State Basketball
BeeJay Anya: The Enforcer
What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.
What was the most memorable moment for you?
I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.
_______
Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.
TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.
View this post on Instagram
Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.
NC State has 3 scholarships available now.
Best of luck Ernest!
NC State vs. UNC: A Historical Perspective
WATCH: Hollywood Smothers Leads NC State in Rushing at the Spring Game
3-Star LB Jaiden Braker Locks In Official Visit to NC State
NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading into UNC Series
NC State Forward Katie Peneueta Enters the Transfer Portal
Players in the Transfer Portal that Have Heard from NC State
Rothstein’s Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25
Looking to Next Year: 4-Star SF Paul McNeil Jr. Will Make an Instant Impact
That Concludes the Most Incredible March Madness Run in College Basketball History
NC State’s Mohamed Diarra Has Professional Options in France
2024 NC State Commit Trey Parker Finishes 2nd in OTE Dunk Contest
VIDEO BREAKDOWN: Was BYU 3 point barrage unstoppable, or was NC State’s defense to blame? You decide.
VIDEO: Terquavion Smith GOES OFF in G-League Debut with 37 points & 8 Boards
NC State lands combo guard DJ Horne from the portal
Wolfer96 Is it true that the conference will make more money the more teams that we have in the NCAA tourney? I hate to say it, but the game appeared to be fix in favor of the Pack. Just an opinion, no whining.
Wolfer96 PackInsider Staff I also think that having half of the old big east in our conference now makes a difference. It’s not just Puke and the Holes anymore.
shaverlb73 Wolfer96 We need to get Stone and Newman. Gott needs to offer Stone a scholarship and see if both will come here together. Newman has made it public that he wants to play with Stone in college. Give it a try Gott.
PackInsider Staff Wolfer96 Proof positive is when King Karl gets suspended and other refs at an NC State game have KH written on their shoes. I don’t need to see more than that to know there was bias. These ACC refs made it personal and could not be relied upon to be impartial. I still cringe every time I think about the ACC tourney a few years ago when the same block/charge call went for unc and against State costing us the game. That’s 2 possessions in a tight game so YES bad calls can determine the outcome of a close… Read more »
Wolfer96 Yes huge difference. We will have an article on reffing at some point here when it’s relevant. Not sure if it was Karl Hess’ firing (making refs realize they’re not invincible) or just an overall sweeping change). I’m not sure, but it’s different. I think there is a lot less bias and a lot less put on tendencies. This means Duke and UNC are getting reffed like every other team in the league. If you have paid attention in the past the difference bw UNC and Duke and the rest of the ACC were their huge, game changing runs.… Read more »
Wolfer96 Once Kyle gets it all together, he will be a nightmare for other teams to guard, which will make us even better.
Wolfer96 I noticed that too. I’m so used to seeing someone drive in, not score, and the whistle blow, that it took me awhile to adjust to us making defensive stops. If Duke’s Okafur is going to be allowed to aggressively back his defender under the goal every time (like he did to Meeks) for an easy shot, then the defense should be allowed some freedom of their own to protect the rim. I’m all for it.
Does anyone else notice the difference is refereeing this season? Particularly the 2nd half of the season. The ACC is much more physical than years past. Like last night for instance, unc got away with tons of holding, hand checking, and bumping. But it was on both sides. Anya on several occasions brought his arms down on a block instead of having his arms straight up and did not get called for a foul. In seasons past, those would have been whistled every time. We also body checked several unc players as they drove to the basket and no whistle.… Read more »