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To think, just a month ago we were hearing a lot of questions about Mark Gottfried. After the Martin twins transferred and news spread that Abu was contemplating leaving, some wondered if the Pack would even put a competitive team on the floor in 2016. They wondered if Gottfried really had what it takes to turn this team around for good.

Today there is a much different tone. Over the past month NC State went from questionable to serious contender. It all started when Abu made it known that he would be returning for his junior year. The bouncy forward was always going to be a key piece for State if they were to make a serious run in the ACC this season, but even with Abu NC State was going to need more pieces. That is when Gottfried somehow pulled off adding Omer Yurtseven. The Turkish big man is a 5 star talent who many think is going to be one and done. He immediately slots in at a high end scoring option and NC State’s starting center.

Those two moves has NC State’s starting 5 looking very dangerous. Dennis Smith Jr, Terry Henderson, Torin Dorn (or Mav Rowan), Abu and Yurtseven. But five or 6 players is not going to win you the ACC. Gottfried was still lacking a backup PG and a backup forward and it looked like they may not be able to land high caliber players at those positions for 2016-17. However, things might be changing on that front.

PG Markell Johnson from Cleveland who was originally slated to be a 2017 recruit has reclassified and rumor is that he’s favoring NC State. With the NBPA going on, news on Johnson will likely be easy to come by over the next day or two. We’ll keep you updated.

If State were to land Johnson it would be huge. This is a kid who is probably not ready to lead a team at this point in his development, but he’s very close. The tools are all there in abundance and a year as a backup behind Dennis Smith Jr will be very beneficial and likely have him ready by his sophomore season.

If the Pack could have a backup PG committed, it would then come down to finding a backup at forward. Normally Lenard Freeman would be your man, but Nard might be looking at a red shirt year with his leg injury. This leave the Pack in a spot where they need to get some depth. Enter Ted Kapita.

Ted Kapita is a beastly body that could fill in nicely as a backup to Abu. He’s a 6’9, 245 machine. He recently decommitted from SMU and is on NC State’s campus today for an official visit.


He might not be the most athletic big you’ve ever seen, and his footwork and touch aren’t super polished, but he’s a guy who given a season or two could be a major factor in the paint for NC State. We’ll keep tabs on the situation as it is currently unfolding.

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Holy crap we just landed Markell Johnson. That PG position was the only one we weren’t 2 deep at and we just got one hell of a backup PG. This kid starts year 2 at PG after DSJ goes pro. This is how recruiting is done people.  Lineup this season: PG – DSJ/Johnson SG – Dorn/Hendo SF – Rowan/Kirk PF – Abu/Hicks C – Yurt7/Anya I don’t recall the last time State was 2 deep at every position? OMG! Only area of concern is that both our PGs are Freshmen. But outside of that we have upperclassmen at SG, PF,… Read more »

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Who knew the twins were doing us a  favor by transferring? That’s 2 scholly’s that opened up just in time for new coaching staff to go on a recruiting buffet. If only one of the new coaches can teach defense this could be a season to remember.

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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Offers 4-Star 2026 SF Cole Cloer

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3 days ago

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September 24, 2023

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NC State offered 4-Star Small Forward Cole Cloer (6’6″175) earlier this week.

247Sports ranks Cloer as the #24 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #10 Small Forward and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina. Cloer plays for Orange High School, which is right down the road, in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Cloer also holds offers from Wake Forest, Mississippi St, App St, High Point and Iowa.

Last season, Cloer averaged 20.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game for Orange.

 

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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Men’s Basketball Recruiting Update (9/21/23)

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6 days ago

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September 21, 2023

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There’s been quite a bit going on in the world of NC State Men’s Basketball recruiting. Below I’ll summarize quite a bit of it.

4-Star Power Forward Kendre Harrison (6’7″/230) out of Reidsville High School (Reidsville, NC) took in the NC State vs. VMI game on Saturday, and walked away with an offer from the NC State Men’s Basketball coaching staff. Harrison already received an offer from the NC State Football coaching staff back in January.

ESPN ranks Harrison as the #20 overall basketball player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #5 Power Forward and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina. Harrison already holds offers from Wake Forest, FSU and Texas A&M. Harrison is the #5 overall football player nationally in the 2026 class according to 247Sports, and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina. Harrison is a unicorn. He projects to be a 5-star prospect in 2 sports.

Did I mention that Harrison is the nephew of former NC State basketball player C.C. Harrison?

On September 12, NC State offered 4-Star 2025 Point Guard Jordan Lowery (6’1″/175) out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He already holds offers from TCU, SMU, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, St. Louis, Wichita St, ECU and Virginia Tech. Rivals ranks Lowery as the #110 overall player nationally, and ON3 ranks him as the #9 player in the state of North Carolina. Lowery took an unofficial visit to NC State earlier in the month.

Last week, the coaches were in to visit 4-Star 2025 Small Forward AJ White (6’8″/180) out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Rivals ranks White as the #28 overall player nationally in 2025, and he is the consensus #1 player in the state. White holds offers from NC State, South Carolina, Cincy, Texas, Syracuse, Georgia, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Mississippi St., LSU, FSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgetown, Ohio St. and others.

 

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While the coaching staff was in to see Lowery, they were also checking out 2024 Center Chol Machot (7’0″). ON3 ranks Machot as a 3-star prospect, and the #14 player in the state of North Carolina.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star PF David Punch Takes Official Visit to NC State

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1 week ago

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September 16, 2023

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2024 4-Star Power Forward David Punch (6’7″/190) is on an Official Visit to NC State this weekend.

 

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Back on August 24, Punch included NC State in his Top-7, which also included Penn St., TCU, UVA, Virginia Tech, TCU, and Xavier. Punch took an Official Visit to Penn State last weekend, and has Official Visits scheduled for the rest of his Top-7, except for VCU.

Apparently Punch has an insane 45-inch vertical.

ON3 ranks Punch as the #97 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and 247Sports ranks him as the #5 player in the state of Texas (Dynamic Prep/Harker Heights)

 

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star PF David Punch Sets Official Visit to NC State…Wolfpack Makes Final 7

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1 month ago

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August 25, 2023

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4-Star 2024 Power Forward David Punch (6’8″/215) announced his Final 7 schools yesterday, and NC State made the cut along with Penn State, TCU, Virginia, Virginia Tech, VCU and Xavier.

Punch has scheduled Official Visits to all but VCU in the very near future. He will be taking his Official Visit to NC State on September 15th.

ON3 ranks Punch as the #97 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, the #17 Power Forward and the #8 player in the state of Texas.

NC State offered Punch back on July 21st.

Check out his highlights below.

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