NC State Basketball

Valparaiso Graduate Transfer Derrik Smits Visiting NC State Soon

Published

7 months ago

April 13, 2019

Derrik Smits (7’1″/235) decided to transfer from Valparaiso on March 18th after graduating.

Derrik Smits is transferring from Valparaiso University as a post grad w/ one year of eligibility remaining.

The 7’1" center (12.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 59.4 FG%) also plans to enter the NBA Draft process.
— Jim Reamer (@JWReamer) March 18, 2019

As you can see above, Reamer reported that Smits is planning on going through the Draft process, with the option to return to school (which is most likely).

Reamer reported yesterday that Smits has already visited Butler, and will be visiting Arizona State and NC State over the next 10 days, and will choose between those three schools.

Derrik Smits has visits planned in the next 10 days to Arizona State and NC State and has already visited Butler. He will decide between those three by April 28. @SmitsDerrik
— Jim Reamer (@JWReamer) April 13, 2019

Coming out of high school, Smits was a 3-star prospect, ranked as the #11 player in the state of Indiana. Smits chose Valparaiso over offers from Butler, Clemson, Xavier and Indiana.

Smits sat out his first season at Valpo due to injury, and then played the past three seasons.

He saw a big jump across the board last year, seeing career highs in games started (25), minutes played (21.7), field goal percentage (59.4%), rebounds (5.7), and points (12.2).

NC State can fill 1 more spot before next season, and a front-court player is the priority. Pat Andree (6’8″), Graduate Transfer out of Lehigh, is on campus in Raleigh for a visit this weekend.

Andree has the height of a big fella, but is also a three-point specialist (41%). Smits is your prototypical “big.”

Smits has NBA pedigree. You might remember his pops: Rik Smits.

His father played 12 seasons in the NBA, was an All-Star in 1997-98, and averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Smits gets his height from his father, who stood 7’4′.

With one year of eligibility left, Smits has to decide if he’s willing to leave the state of Indiana. He has the option to stay in-state by going to Butler, or he can check out the West coast at Arizona State, or the East coast at NC State.

NC State Basketball

Kevin Keatts’ Presser After St. Francis: BULLETED

Published

2 hours ago

November 16, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Head Coach Kevin Keatts met with the media in his postgame press conference after NC State beat St. Francis (NY) 95-64. You can watch it here, or check out the bulleted breakdown below.

What I did not realize was that we had 60 points in the paint.
In the 1st half, I was disappointed in our rebounding, but we corrected that in the 2nd half.
In the 2nd half, that was the team that I envisioned with the press. I was good. We were able to turn them over 20 times, which is great.
I think we are getting better, especially from the FIU game to this one.

C.J. Bryce…

He is playing really good basketball. He is doing everything right.
The only thing that is lacking right now is his 3-point shooting.
- He is still getting 18 to 19 points a game which is great.
Because he is a transfer, he did not know whether or not he could take a leadership role on the team.
- I have told him to start to own up to your role at NC State because you have a voice in this locker room, which I think he is starting to embrace.

Manny Bates…

When I recruited Manny, I was looking for a taller and athletic guy.
- He is 6-11, tall, athletic and he can run the floor.
He will get better as the season progresses.
- You are starting to see his talent offensively, especially around the rim with those lobs.

Markell Johnson’s shooting…

I’m not concerned about it. It is going to take some time to find his groove and his rhythm and right now, it’s just not there. He will be fine.
It could be as soon as the next game that it clicks for him.
He hasn’t had great practices. Hasn’t been able to score the ball well, but once it happens he will be fine.
I think it is just a residual effect of his ankle injury. When he twisted it, it was almost to the point that I thought he had broken it.
- He just has a fear of shooting shots that he is going to come down on someone.
Until the shooting comes, he will still be able to be a facilitator for us.

A.J. Taylor’s Injury…

He had a minor surgery on his knee before he got here.
- It has been bothering him a lot, and I am unsure if we are ever going to be able to get completely over it.
We are going to take him back to the doctor and take a look at it to see where he is now.
If it doesn’t get better, we may have to see about redshirting him.

Danny Dixon’s Injury…

Danny was feeling good for 2 or 3 days, but his foot was bothering him.
I want him to be healthy because we will need him down the stretch.

Talking about Rebounding at the half…

I didn’t say a word about it at halftime.
I could hear my assistant coaches yelling at them about it, so I figured they had already heard it.
I talked more about coming out with good energy and continuing to improve at half.

Team at this point…

I want us to be a team that can play a lot of different combinations, but at this point I feel like we are only really playing eight guys.
I want us to be able to switch defenses a lot, get out in transition, and I want our veterans to play like veterans.
That is why it is so important for both CJ Bryce and Markell Johnson to play great.
In Manny Bates, for the 1st time since I have been here, we have someone that can protect the rim, so we need to continue to improve on that.

NC State Basketball

NC State Demolishes St. Francis (NY) 95-64

Published

6 hours ago

November 16, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Redshirt Senior Guard C.J. Bryce continued his blazing start to the 2019-20 season today, collecting his first double-double of the season in the Wolfpack’s 95-64 victory over St. Francis (NY). He finished with 22 points (7-12 FG) and 11 rebounds, along with 3 steals.

The three-ball wasn’t falling for NC State today (3-16), but they were efficient from the field overall (49.3%), and shot a clean 71.4% from the charity stripe.

For the first time this year, we got to see what a lineup would look like with both Redshirt Junior D.J. Funderburk and Redshirt Freshman Manny Bates on the court at the same time. The rest of the team enjoyed tossing the ball up to them where no one else could grab it all game long. Funderburk finished with 17 points (7-10 FG) and 7 rebounds, and Bates finished with 12 points (5-8 FG) and 2 blocks.

It looks like it’s going to take awhile before Redshirt Senior Guard Markell Johnson to get his shot back, but his court vision hasn’t missed a beat, dishing out 9 assists.

Redshirt Junior Devon Daniels and Sophomore Jericole Hellems were the other 2 players to score in double figures, scoring 13 and 12 respectively.

While the Wolfpack was obviously supposed to win this game, it was encouraging to see them dominate in all 4 of the most essential keys to victory.

They outshot them, grabbed more offensive rebounds, turned the ball over less, and go to the free throw line more.

The Wolfpack will host Alcorn State on Tuesday night at 6pm back in Reynolds Coliseum once again, for another Heritage game.

Photo Credit

NC State Basketball

NC State 95 St. Francis (NY) 64: BOX SCORE

Published

7 hours ago

November 16, 2019

Matthew Bradham

The NC State Men’s Basketball team improved to 3-1 this afternoon, running over St. Francis (NY) 95-64 in the “Old Barn.” The Wolfpack will host Alcorn State on Tuesday night at 6pm back in Reynolds Coliseum once again, for another Heritage game.