NC State is hoping to land Dennis Smith Jr. and Bam Adebayo, who both rank in the Top 10 of the 2016 basketball recruiting class. Smith is the #4 overall player according to both Scout, Rivals, and ESPN, and he is the #1 point guard in the class. Adebayo is the #7 overall player according to Rivals and #8 according to ESPN.
I don’t know if NC State fans can quite grasp what the possibility of landing two Top-10 players in one class means for the Wolfpack. The talent on the court for the Wolfpack in 2016 would be astounding and the future of recruiting in Raleigh would be very bright.
This begs the question. Who were the last 2 Top 10 players that NC State landed? JJ Hickson in 2007 and Julius Hodge in 2001.
JJ Hickson was the #10 overall player in the 2007 class according to Rivals. Hickson averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a Freshman, and earned a spot on the All-ACC Freshman team and was an Honorable Mention for the All-ACC team. After one season in Raleigh, Hickson was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 19th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2008 draft. The former Wolfpack power forward has spent the past 7 seasons in the NBA, and has averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds in his career.
Hickson High School Rivals Highlights
Julius Hodge was the #7 player in the 2001 recruiting class according to Bob Gibbons, #5 according to ESPN, #7 according to The Sporting News, and #9 according to PrepStars. Over his 4-year career at NC State, Hodge averaged 15.8, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The Juice earned 1st Team All-ACC honors in 2003 and 2004, and was named the ACC Player of the year in 2004. He finished his career 3rd on NC State’s all-time scoring list. Hodge was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 20th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NBA Draft. After playing 2 seasons in the NBA, Hodge went on to play 8 seasons professionally all over the world.
Julius Hodge High School Highlights (skip to 3:17)
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.
It’s too bad State wasn’t any better during Hickson’s lone season. I had forgotten what his stats even were that year or how highly rated he was. Imagine if they had made the tourney that year, then Hickson would be an infinitely more memorable Pack player. Instead he just continues to recede further from memory.
4-Star 2024 Small Forward Jahki Howard (6’7″/180) took an Unofficial Visit to NC State yesterday alongside 4-Star Shooting Guard Paul McNeil, who verbally committed to run with the Wolfpack yesterday.
Howard is ranked as the #51 overall player nationally in the 2024 class by Rivals, and the #4 player in the state of Georgia according to ESPN. Howard plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta, where 2023 NC State signee Trey Parker plays.
He also holds offers from Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Providence, Auburn, Rutgers, Illinois, Texas A&M, Mississippi St, Wake Forest, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Arizona St, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and others.
As far as I can tell, Howard doesn’t hold an offer from NC State at this point.
Jahki Howard earns Player of the Week honors after a big performance vs. Hillcrest dropping 25 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST 🚀 @showtime_kipic.twitter.com/yPD5psrm2m
What a day! 4-Star 2024 Shooting Guard Paul McNeil (6’6″/185) wrapped up his Official Visit to NC State today by committing to run with the Wolfpack, after watching them defeat their rival UNC in PNC Arena.
McNeil is the #17 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class according to ESPN, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.
In 2022-23, McNeil is averaging 23.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game for Richmond High School. Last year, he became the first ever Sophomore to win the Gatorade Player of the Year Award in the state of North Carolina.
McNeil also held offers from Clemson, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Miami, Georgetown, St. John’s, LSU, Virginia Tech, Missouri, and others.
2024 4-Star Shooting Guard Paul McNeil (6’6″/185) will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next weekend.
I’m grateful to announce I will be taking an official visit to North Carolina State University this upcoming weekend. This is a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to spending time with Coach Keatts and the program. @PackMensBball@NCStateRivals
ESPN ranks McNeil as the #17 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina. I don’t understand how recruiting databases work, but at some point this year he will be a 5-star player according to ESPN as long as he stays in the Top-25.
McNeil plays for Richmond Senior in Rockingham, North Carolina.
This is huge for NC State to get a player of McNeil’s caliber to come in for an Official Visit this early in the process.
Swartz plays for Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina. ON3 ranks him as the #65 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #7 player in the state of North Carolina.
He already holds offers from Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia, Illinois, Houston and others.
It’s too bad State wasn’t any better during Hickson’s lone season. I had forgotten what his stats even were that year or how highly rated he was. Imagine if they had made the tourney that year, then Hickson would be an infinitely more memorable Pack player. Instead he just continues to recede further from memory.