Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) has announced his commitment to NC State!
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This past year, James averaged 12.6 points per game (3rd on the team) and 5 rebounds. He’s extremely physical and aggressive, taking 47% of his field goal attempts at the rim (making 46%). As a result, he draws a lot of fouls, ranking 10th in the ACC in Fouls Drawn, and 4th in Free Throw Rate. James made opponents pay this year when they put him on the line, making 81.8% from the charity stripe, which ranked 15th in the ACC.
James shot the ball better as a Redshirt Freshman, than he did this past season. His Effective Field Goal Percentage in 2022-23 was 55.8%, which ranked 19th in the ACC, and his True Shooting Percentage of 59.6% ranked 14th.
News broke about James entering the Transfer Portal back on March 25th, and NC State was quick to reach out. Kevin Keatts and his staff recruited the former 4-star prospect out of high school heavily, but he ultimately chose the Cardinals.
After redshirting his first year in Louisville due to torn achilles, James has been a starter for the Cardinals the past two years.
He does have the ability to knock down a three, making 34.8% for his career.
James has 2 years of eligibility remaining. With James’ commitment, NC State currently has 1 scholarship available for next season.
Bowling Green Transfer Guard Marcus Hill (6’4″/185) confirmed with me that he is currently on a visit at NC State.
Hill averaged 20.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Falcons this season. He earned 1st Team All-MAC honors. Even though he was only at Bowling Green one season, he had one of the best seasons in school history, scoring 698 points, which ranks 5th all-time in program history for a single season.
For his first two years of collegiate ball, Hill played for Southern Union State College (JUCO) in Alabama. In 2022-23, Hill earned 3rd Team NJCAA All-American honors, and ranked as the #32 overall Junior College prospect.
247Sports ranks Hill as a 4-Star Transfer Prospect, and the #78 overall player in the Transfer Portal, and the #11 Shooting Guard.
According to a source, the NC State Coaching Staff is extremely high on Hill, and they are recruiting him as a Point Guard.
What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend Dennis Smith Jr.? The man who won the ACC Rookie of the Year Award in 2017 gave me a statement.
It means a lot. It means a lot to the university, the state of North Carolina and a lot more to my dad, grandma, and myself. They have been NC State fans since forever, so their excitement level was though the roof when they saw BOTH of our basketball teams shining like that. It was a great feeling!
2017 was Smith Jr.’s only year of College ball, averaging 18.1 points, 6.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors, and obviously, he earned a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
DSJ was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 9th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Smith Jr. just wrapped up his 7th season in the NBA. This was his 1st season with Brooklyn, playing in 56 games for the Nets. He averaged 6.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, averaging 18.9 minutes per contest.
NC State’s DJ Horne played in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this weekend, and he was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In 3 games, Horne averaged 14.3 points, shooting 41.5% from the field, and 30% from three.
Horne’s Portsmouth Partnership team made it to the finals, but lost to Jani-King 68-75.
The Portsmouth Invitational is an annual pre-draft camp that has been showcasing College Seniors to professional scouts since 1953.
Too many new guys trying to form a team using a Coach that can’t coach during the game. No defense, no rebounding, not tough. Take that seven footer to Harlem and get his a$$ beat several times and make him tough. Playing like a p___y at seven foot is ridiculous. During the part of the game I watch, Smith acts like he is God’s gift to NCSU basketball. Set the rotation, and stick with it.
Once again Mav should be 7-8th off the bench.
This is why I’ve been saying “wait until the Miami game”. There was no way to get a good measure of this Wolfpack squad against inferior teams. Miami showed that this team needs a lot of improvement. People blamed not having this guy or that guy early in the season and I saw poor perimeter and transition D, poor shot selection, bad habits, and lack of toughness. Lots of work to do.
About what I expected. Out-coached, out-hustled, out-played. Turnovers and rebounding alone made it tough to stay in this game. This team developed bad habits while playing bad teams and it bit them on the ass against a well coached team. Coach Larranaga is probably one of the most underrated coaches in the country.
Coaching is not just about plays you have to get your guys. Kapita should have been in the game a long time go not when its 4 minutes and we are down by double digits. Smith, Doren, Mav (shouldve been Henderson), Y7, and kapita was when we did the best. I must say Abu played pretty good.
Yeah surprisingly Abu has shown up the last few games. It’s like a lightbulb went off in his head and he realized that he was 6’8″ and had a 40″+ vertical. He’s been going at the rim and not settling for a bunch of jumpers.
Kapita’s toughness was definitely missed.
Coaching is not just about plays you have to get your guys energized and ready to play from the tip. Miami made us look soft. That is what the first line was suppose to say. Blame it on the early start to the new year. lol #getemrightgott
Mav Rowan doesn’t need to come in so early 1 or 2 3s doesn’t make up for the lack of defense and turnovers.
And some of those cringe worthy shots off the dribble. I’d prefer he take it all the way to the hoop and at least try to get a foul.
Gott Gott to go!! he doesn’t know how to use what he Gott (has), coach defense or make players better. Point blank. he has had good players to get to where he is but that get exposed. Just like I said in the beginning of the season we dont come out with energy and team jump on us and have control. #Gott-Gott-todobetter-buthecant. Do you see the word play on Gott?
I agree. But then I have been called a Troll for not drinking the Kool-Aid. Fire Gottfried.
NIT here we come.
Blue bloods both go down today. Wolfpack better come ready or it will be an ugly game. Miami is not Ryder or Fairfield. Hope these kids are ready for a battle.
Ugly is my conclusion. Not ready for prime time. Loss by blue bloods just makes it tougher for Pack.
We blew a big opportunity to get a head start on our neighbors.