PLAYER PREVIEW: Torin Dorn ready to emerge as leader of the Pack

It’s amazing to think that Torin Dorn has been at NC State longer than anyone else on this year’s roster. It seems like just yesterday Dorn was transferring from UNC Charlotte to NC State, touting a conference rookie of the year award, and possibly slotting in as a shooting guard or a stretch forward.

A lot has changed since then.

Not only did he get a new coach in Kevin Keatts, but he also has found success playing at the 4.

It’s not like Dorn has turned into some back to the basket big. He’s still just 6’5, 210lbs, but he’s been plugged into a system where a guy with his skill set can become a matchup nightmare.Last year Dorn went from averaging 9.5 points and 4.6 boards two years ago to 14 points and 6.4 boards last year. While his stats took a big jump, he also started to emerge as a leader. His physicality and tenacity were contagious. When he was on the floor, NC State was a tougher, more gritty basketball team.

Now a senior, Dorn is being looked to as a guy who can not only lead by example but also mentor the younger guys and let them know what NC State basketball under Kevin Keatts is all about.

“This is my 4th year here, 5th year in college. I definitely feel like a vet, but still feel young and rejuvenated.” Said Dorn. “Being the guy that has been at State the longest. Being able to show these guys what it takes to play in the ACC, especially some of the younger guys. Using the things that I’ve learned, to help them is the biggest thing for me.”

Part of that mentoring will be trying to get them up to speed on how much faster and more physical the ACC is. He’ll also have to get them used to playing for Keatts, which means being expected to be in the best shape of their lives.

Having seniors that can take underclassmen under their wing is a foundational pillar of building a great program and so far Keatts smees to have his veterans evangelizing for him.

“With Coach Keatts, you have to be prepared to run,” Dorn told us. “Play an up-tempo style of game. I think he’s a coach that prides himself on hard work and we pride our team on hard work.”

Dorn has always been talented, but the level of success he reached last year was partly a product of Keatts system. The idea that basketball has changed and playing small, fast, versatile and positionless is the hallmark of this new-look Wolfpack gameplan. Last year Keatts and company gave NC State fans a taste of what the future may look like, but according to Dorn, this year they’re taking that to the next level.

“We’ve got a lot of interchangeable pieces. A lot of guys who can play multiple positions,” said Dorn. “I think it will make us hard to scout, I think it will make us a versatile team. A team that can do a lot of different things. We might be able to put a big line up out, or a small lineup. You’ll never know what you’re going to see with us.”

Making this possible a stable of guys who have wide-ranging skill sets, Dorn being one of them. Some of them are freshmen, but most of them have played college basketball before and have even gotten a year to mature while sitting out and watching. Two of those are guys that Dorn thinks could make big impacts this season.

“Both our transfers that sat out last season are really good players. CJ Bryce and Devon Daniels are both are hungry and itching. I remember those days when I was sitting out. I see that same fire in them and how they work, so it should be really good for us this year.”

While a lot of talk has been surrounding these transfers, the incoming freshmen, and Kevin Keatts, Torin Dorn remains as one of the most important pieces of this NC State team. He may not be flashy. He may not be the most athletic or most skilled guy on the court, but Dorn is exactly the type of player that Kevin Keatts wants and needs as he builds this program into a contender.