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Basketball Recruiting

Could NC State Commit Jalen Lecque Go Straight to the NBA?

Published

5 years ago

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On Tuesday, NC State picked up one of their biggest commitments in school history in 5-Star Point Guard Jalen Lecque.

At one point, Lecque was wrestling with whether or not he would reclassify to the 2018 class, but he decided to remain in the 2019 class to become more accustomed to the point guard position.

Lecque ultimately decided to remain in the 2019 class, and enroll as a post-graduate student at Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire). At the end of the 2019 school year, he will technically be 1-year removed from his high school graduation, making him eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft.

Here’s what Lecque had to say about the possibility of declaring for the 2019 NBA Draft to Rivals this summer:

“It is a good idea,” he said. “I have to talk it over with my parents and just get bigger physically and just fill out. If I feel like I am good enough next year and my body gets bigger and stronger, and I get better at the point guard position, you just never know.” (Rivals)

Currently, NBADraft.net doesn’t have him projected as a draft pick in 2019, but does have him going 16th overall in the 2020 draft after one year of college ball.

Lecque has had his critics, and their criticism isn’t completely without merit. If you want to play at the next level, you have to be able to shoot the ball, and no recruiting analyst would say Lecque is a particularly strong shooter at this point, struggling with his jumper much of the summer.

He is aware it is a area he needs to improve upon.

There is always the chance that Lecque could become a lights out shooter at Brewster this year, and declare for the 2019 NBA Draft, but I envision him benefitting from at least one year of college basketball. Lecque doesn’t simply need to grow as a shooter. He also needs to continue to develop as a point guard, a position he has only played for one season at this point.

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Basketball Recruiting

North Carolina High School Athletes Will Now be Able to Profit off NIL

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4 weeks ago

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May 4, 2023

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NIL has shaken up the college sports world, and now it will be shaking up the high school sports world in North Carolina (NCHSAA), becoming one of 27 states to approve the ability for high school athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness.

This will officially take place beginning July 1.

In order for a student athlete to begin this process, they will have to take a course on NIL, and their parents, coaches and athletic director will as well. Schools and coaches will not be able to represent the student in NIL Deals, and they will also not be allowed to use NIL as a way to draw athletes to their school.

There are restrictions on what student athletes can profit off of though.

The NCHSAA will prohibit student-athletes from entering into NIL deals with products around adult entertainment, alcohol, cannabis, controlled substances, firearms and ammunition, gambling, prescription drugs, as well as tobacco, vaping, and other Nicotine-related products. Athletes cannot affiliate themselves with a specific school, conference, school district, the NCHSAA, or the NFHS through a NIL deal.

(Link)

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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Men’s Offers 4-Star Jahki Howard

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4 weeks ago

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May 1, 2023

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Last Thursday, the Wolfpack offered 2024 Small Forward Jahki Howard (6’7″/180) out of Overtime Elite (Atlanta, GA).

ESPN ranks Howard as the #53 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #3 player in the state of Georgia.

Howard is familiar with NC State, because NC State 2023 signee Trey Parker played with him down at Overtime Elite. In 2022-23, Howard averaged 10.1 points per game, shooting 58.6% from the field.

Check out these pictures of Howard on an unofficial visit to NC State with Parker.

 

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A post shared by Jahki howard (@showtime_ki)

Check out these recent highlight reels of Howard.

 

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A post shared by Jahki howard (@showtime_ki)

Parker and Howard showed out in this Dunk Contest a couple of months back.

Howard will be taking an Official Visit to Georgetown on May 8-9.

 

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star SF Jahki Howard Takes an Unofficial Visit to NC State

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3 months ago

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February 20, 2023

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4-Star 2024 Small Forward Jahki Howard (6’7″/180) took an Unofficial Visit to NC State yesterday alongside 4-Star Shooting Guard Paul McNeil, who verbally committed to run with the Wolfpack yesterday.

Howard is ranked as the #51 overall player nationally in the 2024 class by Rivals, and the #4 player in the state of Georgia according to ESPN. Howard plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta, where 2023 NC State signee Trey Parker plays.

He also holds offers from Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Providence, Auburn, Rutgers, Illinois, Texas A&M, Mississippi St, Wake Forest, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Arizona St, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and others.

As far as I can tell, Howard doesn’t hold an offer from NC State at this point.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star 2024 Shooting Guard Paul McNeil Commits to NC State!

Published

3 months ago

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February 19, 2023

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What a day! 4-Star 2024 Shooting Guard Paul McNeil (6’6″/185) wrapped up his Official Visit to NC State today by committing to run with the Wolfpack, after watching them defeat their rival UNC in PNC Arena.

McNeil is the #17 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class according to ESPN, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

In 2022-23, McNeil is averaging 23.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game for Richmond High School. Last year, he became the first ever Sophomore to win the Gatorade Player of the Year Award in the state of North Carolina.

McNeil also held offers from Clemson, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Miami, Georgetown, St. John’s, LSU, Virginia Tech, Missouri, and others.

 

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