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NC State’s Torin Dorn Talks at ACC Media Day: TRANSCRIPT

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Senior Torn Dorn took the podium today as one of NC State’s two representatives at ACC Media Day today. Here’s a TRANSCRIPT of what he had to say:

Q. We try not to talk a lot about last year during this event. But in that overtime win, given the family history that you have with North Carolina and Chapel Hill, what was it like for family going into that game, and then what was the conversation coming out of that game?

TORIN DORN: Having family ties to the rivalry, I think a lot of people will look at it and think it’s a riff inside the family, but, no. It’s really they’re very supportive of me and the things that I’m doing. So when we’re winning, they’re happy. When my brother’s playing and he’s winning, they’re happy. They’re really supportive of our team and coach, and everything that we’re doing. So it was definitely fun for them to see us win after the loss that we suffered the year before.

Q. Torin, same question for you, a Vance graduate, so you’re right at home as well.

TORIN DORN: Definitely. It’s always fun coming home and being in the spectrum center and seeing familiar faces and people that work here that I’ve known growing up and things like that. So it’s definitely fun and something that I take a lot of pride in.

Q. Torin, in your two years in the ACC your numbers have jumped from a scoring perspective both in league play and overall. Do you expect another elevation this year? Is there still more to your game? And I know points on the only thing, but what is the next level for you?

TORIN DORN: I definitely think the next level for me is becoming more of a leader on this team. I think with a lot of new pieces, a lot of young guys, I think myself stepping out of my comfort zone and being more of a vocal leader is probably the next step for me. Just cutting down on small things like turnovers, defensive mental errors and things like that. It’s not all about scoring. But I think being a more efficient player is something that I could work on, and that I worked on in the off-season, I could help the team win this year.

Q. You’ve obviously thought about it. How do you define leadership? What is your interpretation?

TORIN DORN: Leadership takes various forms. You can lead by actions, you can lead by being vocal. But leadership is doing the right things and being able to understand how to best motivate other people, you know, everybody’s not motivated in the same way, you have to know how to motivate them and get a group of guys to come together and work together for a common goal.

Q. All right, Torin, your turn?

TORIN DORN: Oh, man. I feel like they know everything at this point. But favorite color is also orange. Favorite rapper is Drake. I can say the 50 states in alphabetical order.

KEVIN KEATTS: We don’t have time for that. You know if you say that, they’ll make you do it though.

TORIN DORN: We don’t have time for that though.

KEVIN KEATTS: But I found out today and yesterday that he does a great Coach Keatts impression, which is good. So go ahead, T.D., I want to hear the coach ‘s impression. These guys want to hear it.

TORIN DORN: You want the uncut, or the edited version (laughing)? No. He would be like, “I think we have a great team. I think if we come together we can do a lot of things this year. We’re really versatile.” (Laughing). When he gets on, he’ll go, “T.D., if you let your man catch the ball one more time you’re coming out of the game, T.D., I promise you. I promise you you’re coming out of the game, if you let your man catch the ball one more time (laughing).”

KEVIN KEATTS: Paul, do I sound like that (laughing)? (ACC)

Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Women’s Basketball Ranks 8th in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early 2024-25 Preseason Top-25

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ESPN released their updated Way-Too-Early Preseason Top-25 for the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball season, and NC State ranked 8th.

8. NC State Wolfpack

The dynamic backcourt that took the Wolfpack to their first Final Four since 1998 returns. Aziaha James (16.8 PPG), Saniya Rivers (12.5 PPG) and Zoe Brooks (9.0 PPG) are enough to keep NC State near the top of a highly competitive ACC. How well a new mix of bigs fits in will determine if the Wolfpack are good enough to win the conference and contend for a trip to Tampa. The experience of River Baldwin and Mimi Collins can’t be replaced, so how well 6-5 recruit Lorena Awou adapts to the college game and 6-4 Boston University transfer Caitlin Weimar, the Patriot League player of the year and two-time defensive player of the year, adjusts to the upgrade in competition will have a big impact on NC State’s season. Previous ranking: 8

(ESPN)

ACC Teams in the Top-25

4. Notre Dame

8. NC State

11. Duke

12. Louisville

17. UNC

18. FSU

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NC State Basketball

The Roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball Team is all but Set Heading into 2024-25

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NC State does have 1 scholarship available, and could still add a player out of the Transfer Portal. With that being said, the roster for the Men’s Basketball team is pretty much set for the 2024-25 season.

Non-graduates had to enter the Transfer Portal by April 30th, and Graduates had to enter by May 1st. Jayden Taylor and Michael O’Connell both made public announcements that they were returning, but the closure of entrance to the Portal means that Breon Pass, Ben Middlebrooks, Dennis Parker Jr. and MJ Rice are all set to return next season.

In a world where the Transfer Portal has all but become free agency in College Basketball, with some players switching schools on an annual basis, it’s encouraging that Kevin Keatts not only recruited a Top-10 Transfer Class, but also recruited a majority of the eligible players to stay. Three players that could transfer entered the Portal (I’m not counting Mohamed Diarra in these numbers, who opted to go pro), while 6 opted to continue running with the Wolfpack.

As a result, below is a breakdown of the roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball team heading into 2024-25, realizing the Wolfpack could still add one player (this team is deep).

1 year of Eligibility 

Guard Michael O’Connell
Guard Marcus Hill
Guard Breon Pass
Guard/Forward Jayden Taylor
Forward/Guard Dontrez Styles
Forward Ben Middlebrooks
Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

2 Years of Eligibility

Guard/Forward MJ Rice
Guard Mike James
Guard Jordan Snell (Walk-On)
Guard KJ Keatts (Walk-On)

3 Years of Eligibility 

Guard/Forward Dennis Parker Jr.

4 Years of Eligibility 

Guard Paul McNeil
Guard Trey Parker

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2024 Transfer Class Ranks in the Top-10 Nationally

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.

ON3

247Sports

NC State’s 2024 4-Man Transfer Class

Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)

Guard/Forward Dontez Styles (Georgetown)

Guard Mike James (Louisville)

Guard Marcus Hill (Bowling Green)

NC State still has a chance to move up in the rankings. East Carolina Power Forward Ezra Ausar just wrapped up an Official Visit to NC State, and things are looking good for the Wolfpack. ON3 ranks Ausar as the #67 overall player in the Portal, and the #15 Power Forward.

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WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

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Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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