Louisville Transfer Guard Mike James (6’5″/200) is a priority for NC State, according to a source.
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.
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.
He does have the ability to knock down a three, making 34.8% for his career.
NC State already hosted Indiana State Transfer Guard Ryan Conwell last week, and while the Wolfpack coaches like both players, from what I’m hearing, James would be their preference.
NC State hasn’t had James in for a visit, but that could happen soon.
James has 2 years of eligibility remaining.
NC State Basketball
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Alright I am now sold on Keatts. The man speaks in 3rd person. Quote from Keatts at Press conference – “Kevin Keatts is a winner”.
You have to be kidding. Why didn’t Yow wait until the tournament was at least thru the first weekend? I grew up watching four corners basketball and do not enjoy a bunch of running and gunning without playing defense. Sorry, I don’t have as positive feeling about the coach as most of the Kool-Aid drinkers do.
Here’s what I like and dislike about this hire:
Like:
Disciple of Rick Pitino
Good recruiter?
Comes from winning program (turned around losing program)
2 of 3 seasons made it to NCAA’s
Dislike:
Only 3 years head coaching exp
Coached against lesser talent
Does not have any big wins in 3 seasons at Wilmington
Has not made it past 1st round of CIT or NCAA
Poor defensive rankings
I’ll be the 1st to admit that I was wrong about him if he wins consistently and has the team rolling by year 4. But his defensive rankings in 3 seasons as HC at Wilmington leave a lot to be desired. One of the biggest criticisms of Gott was his inability to coach defense and then we hire another guy who by the numbers is also bad at coaching defense.
I now understand what is happening. State is leaving the ACC and joining the Colonial conference. Good move, Yow.
Nothing we can do now. It’s done. I guess Yow will have to retire and hang her hat on wrestling and swimming. I will support the new coach and I want him to do well but right now I just don’t know how he is the best choice?
Wasn’t he involved with that prostitution fiasco at Louisville?
OMG Yow is a moron! This was a guy that should have been plan D or F. Not plan B! She was so embarassed by her last search that she made sure to end the pain fast this time and settle on a complete noob.