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VIDEO: Daniels, Hellems & Harris Talk After NC State’s 100-67 Victory Over Western Carolina

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5 years ago

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Redshirt Sophomore’s Devon Daniels and Blake Harris, and Freshman Jericole Hellems met with the media after NC State’s 100-67 victory over Western Carolina last night (Highlights). The video is ABOVE, and a bulleted breakdown is BELOW.

  • Daniels: It was a great experience (playing in Reynolds). The fans are right on the court. I liked it a lot. There was a lot of energy in the gym and I think we all felt that.
  • Hellems: Of course, being my first time playing in there. It was a blessing and an amazing experience to have the support from the fans and then obviously with it being loud. I enjoyed myself.
  • Harris: Playing at Reynolds was a great time. My first time. Great crowd. A lot of intensity. I liked it.
  • Daniels: You know, I think everybody knows about his (Valvano) story, but to actually play for the school he represented, it’s a different meaning. You can definitely tell how much of an impact he had on the community. It was a great experience playing here…playing for him and the fans.
  • Hellems: Just knowing the legacy that he created with the team that he coached. It’s a blessing to have NC State across your chest, knowing the history behind it. Having this opportunity to play with NC State is a blessing.
  • Harris: I thought it was wonderful that we got the W on the day they changed the arena to his name.
  • Daniels: I think I was just over-thinking it (getting adjusted to Keatts system). I was just worried about trying to get comfortable, thinking about it way too much. I just settled down, kept it simple, trusted the offense, and it came a lot easier. I just kept listening to my coaches, putting in the work and it helped a lot.
  • Daniels: We are trying to have the mindset just to stay consistent. Playing versus anybody, but definitely playing versus ranked teams at different arenas…we always get excited about that. It’s another chance to prove ourselves and get better. So, I think we’re definitely ready and we’re definitely excited (to face Penn State in the Boardwalk Classic Saturday in Atlantic City).
  • Harris: Our bond is amazing. We all fit together. We’re not selfish at all. We’re all like brothers. We just want to win and make Coach Keatts happy.
  • Hellems: Like Blake was saying, I think we’re all just creating bonds, having fun, and trusting in each other. Obviously, it showed tonight that we played good together, weather any circumstances, and the next game is going to be the same way.
  • Daniels: We’re growing every game. The more we compete together and know each other’s tendencies, I feel like we’re coming along good. We’ve played some pretty good teams. Some ranked opponents. That has helped us bond and I think we’re just going to keep on getting better. Better and stronger.
  • Daniels: Sheesh. Those wolf heads on the Gucci loafers. Crazy

(Video via WRAL)

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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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15 hours ago

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May 7, 2024

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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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5 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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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 Basketball

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

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5 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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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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NC State Basketball

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

Published

6 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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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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