Rivals: NC State “has gained the most ground” on 2018 5-Star SG

NC State could really use someone who can fill it up from long range. Over the past 3 games, the Pack is shooting a measly 27.5% from beyond the arc. For the season they are slightly above 31%.

Landing a true shooter in the 2018 class wouldn’t just be great, it’s starting to seem necessary.

Enter Anfernee Simons.

The 6’3 shooting guard out of IMG Academy in Florida may have the best stroke in the class and is currently the #9 ranked player overall. That is why Kevin Keatts and his staff have been so active in his recruitment since he decommitted from Louisville in late September.

Keatts and company have been out to see Anfernee Simons multiple times this season and it may be paying off, according to Rivals’ analyst Corey Evans.

Simons has remained consistent with his school list, a group consisting of South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, UCLA and NC State. Florida gained the most traction immediately following his decommitment in September but after taking three guards during the early signing period, the Gators may have fallen off. UCLA looks to have put another prior Louisville commit, Courtney Ramey, higher on their board, where they have to play some catch up.

That brings us to a group of three. Tennessee may have recruited Simons the hardest; South Carolina, just like the Vols, have invested plenty of time and attention; NC State, who sent three coaches to see him for his game last week, has gained the most ground during his high school season.

Obviously, the NBA is also an option for Simons since he’ll be more than a year removed from HS at draft time, but many believe he’s college-bound, and if that’s the case then NC State may be sitting squarely in his final 3.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. At this point, there is really a final 5, but Simons likely only has one year in school, so he’s going to want to get good minutes. Where can he do that? If Florida just scooped up 3 guards and UCLA is prioritizing someone ahead of him, then you have Tennessee, SC and NC State.

Just speculating here, but Simons bypasses everyone for Louisville for his first g0-round. Did playing in the ACC factor into that? It may have, and if that does happen to be the case then that should bode well for the Wolfpack.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on this situation as it continues to play out.