Connect with us

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.

2 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
2 Comments
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
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 »

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.

Basketball Recruiting

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Basketball Recruiting

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

Published

on

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.


Continue Reading

Basketball Recruiting

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

Published

on

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).

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Derrick Allmond (@deeayy.sports)

Continue Reading

Basketball Recruiting

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

Published

on

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 🅿️2️⃣ (@thepaulmcneiljr)

Continue Reading