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As we discussed a few days ago, Mark Gottfried was doing all he could to add a backup PG. Yesterday all of that work paid off.

NC State got a huge commitment from Markell Johnson, a 6’1, 170lb PG from Cleveland. Johnson will quickly slot in behind Dennis Smith Jr and likely take the reigns of Smith ends up being a 1 and done as many have predicted.

Johnson was actually a 2017 prospect, but he’s a few summer classes away from being 2016 eligible. While that may not seem like a big deal to some, it’s a huge deal if you understand the immediate needs of this years Wolfpack team.

Make no mistake. These recent moves have signified that NC State is going for it this season. Smith might be here only one year, Yurtseven might just be here one year, Terry Henderson will graduate and Abu might head to the pros as well. This means Gottfried’s job is twofold. Win now, and build a contender for reloading in 2017. Johnson being in the 2016 class makes this all possible.

For now Johnson would be a talented backup who would be allowed to learn the ropes of the college game behind Smith, and then step in as a starter when Smith heads to the NBA. Johnson needs the year of tutelage. He’s younger than most 2016 recruits, and while he’s athletic, quick and elusive, he has some polishing up to do before he’s capable of being an elite guard at the ACC level.

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AnthonyScott1
AnthonyScott1
7 years ago

Wolfer96 wolfpack74

wormncsu
wormncsu
7 years ago

You are forgetting the Newman kid as well.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

wolfpack74 Wolfer96 Do a search of this kid. He is already built like a man and has a 20 foot wingspan. Between Kapita and Anya they could do hands across Raleigh between the 2 of them. He is from the Congo and it seems lately there is a lot of news about kids from Africa lying about their age. He could be 25 for all we know.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

wolfpack74 Wolfer96 Multiple sources on Twitter.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

Wolfer96 That’s great.  Where did you get the news?

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Wolfpack just added another. Ted Kapita! 6’10” 245lbs.  Nice addition to our front court. Alright coaches that is enough for this season. Focus on 2017-18. Wow this means that after the mass exodus following this season we will still have a group to build around. 2017-2018: Gone: Dennis (PG) – NBA Abu (PF) – NBA Yurt7 (C)- NBA Hendo (SG) – Grad Anya (C) – Grad Still here (assuming no xfers): Johnson (PG) Dorn (SG) Rowan (SG) Kirk (SF) Hicks (PF) Kapita (PF/C) Freeman (PF)? That’s at least 6 players remaining for 2017-2018. Would need to add depth at PG,… Read more »

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

wolfpack74 I have that much confidence in Dennis Smith. The Wolfpack has never had a PG like this kid. This will be the best PG we’ve had since Corch Sr. Dennis will lead this team to a great season in spite of Gott’s horrible coaching. All of this is assuming that Dennis can stay healthy. Even if Yurt7 doesn’t qualify I still expect a really good season. Although I still think we could add 1 more to help inside. PF or C.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
7 years ago

Let’s not get the cart before the horse.  How about that for good colloquial saying in North Carolina.  First, the big kid hasn’t been cleared, and second, Johnson hasn’t qualified for this year. Do we know if they can play together, not yet.  Individually they look great but we will have to wait and see if they can mess.  But if they do, then I take back all the bad things I have said about Gott.  Last year was something to never think about again.  Looks like early signing is a thing of the past.  Just have to get use… Read more »

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

I mean I get that more kids are waiting till the very end of the recruiting cycle to see who goes pro, which new recruits they may have to compete with for minutes, etc. Still surprising the number and quality of recruits that the Wolfpack has hauled in this late in the game. What I’m curious about is… how much of this great recruiting can be attributed to the new coaching hires and how much of it was DSJ? How many of these kids came for a visit and got to run the court with DSJ and thought… man I… Read more »

Basketball Recruiting

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

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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.

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Basketball Recruiting

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

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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.


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Basketball Recruiting

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

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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).

 

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Basketball Recruiting

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

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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.

 

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