NC State Basketball

Valparaiso Graduate Transfer Derrik Smits Visiting NC State Soon

Published

4 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

NC State Men’s Basketball Returns the 8th Most Production in 2020

Published

5 days ago

August 13, 2019

Matthew Bradham

NC State’s Men’s Basketball team will experience a luxury this year, that they lacked in abundance last year: returning production.

The Wolfpack is returning the 8th most production from last year amongst all of the Power 5 schools.

Power 5 teams with the most returning production

Colorado 94.1%, 50/1 odds to make Final Four
Notre Dame 89%, 75/1
Maryland 83.3%, 6/1
Illinois 81.6%. 25/1
Oklahoma State 76.2%, 75/1
Baylor 76.1%, 10/1
Georgia Tech 73.9%, 250/1
North Carolina State 71.6%, 50/1
Oregon State 71.5%, 75/1
Rutgers 71.4%, 125/1 (BET)

Breakdown of Production Returning in 2020

71% minutes played
73% of points scored
64% of rebounds
80% of assists
74% of steals
67% of blocks
88% of 3-pointers made

NC State Basketball

Ken Pomeroy Ranks NC State’s Men’s Basketball Program 38th Since 1997

Published

6 days ago

August 12, 2019

Matthew Bradham

Ken Pomeroy is a legend in the world of basketball statistical analytics. He’s been doing his thing since 1997, and he recently released his Program Ratings since the beginning, and according to his calculations, the Wolfpack have been the 38th best program in college basketball over the past 22 years. According to the ratings, NC State is the 10th best Men’s Basketball program in the ACC since 1997.

ACC Teams in Ken Pom’s Program Ratings Since 1997

1) Duke
4) UNC
8) Louisville
15) Syracuse
17) Virginia
27) Florida State
29) Notre Dame
31) Miami
35) Pittsburgh
38) NC State
50) Clemson
57) Wake Forest
63) Virginia Tech
65) Georgia Tech
78) Boston College

The Wolfpack’s best season was 2004 (9th), and worst season was 2008 (110th). They have finished in his Top-25 3 times over 22 years.

NC State Basketball

Jersey Numbers Assigned to NC State’s New Basketball Players

Published

2 weeks ago

August 4, 2019

Matthew Bradham

The NC State Men’s Basketball team will have quite a few new faces this year. Recently each of them received their jersey number.

Freshman Guard Dereon Seabron – #1
Redshirt Sophomore Forward Atticus Taylor – #3
Junior Guard Thomas Allen – #5 (will have to sit out the upcoming season due to transfer rules)
Redshirt Freshman Forward Manny Bates – #15 (missed all of last season, but was assigned #12)
Graduate Senior Forward Danny Dixon – #21
Graduate Senior Forward Pat Andree – #31

NC State Basketball

Andy Katz Lists NC State’s Markell Johnson as Honorable Mention for Top-25 College Basketball Players

Published

4 weeks ago

July 19, 2019

Matthew Bradham

NCAA.com’s Andy Katz released his Top-25 College Basketball players heading into the 2019-20 Men’s Basketball seasons, and NC State Senior Point Guard earned Honorable Mention status. Out of the 15 players receiving Honorable Mention, there is no indication of ranking order. With that being said, it is clear that Katz thinks that Johnson is one of the Top-40 players in College Basketball.

25. Isaiah Stewart, Fr., C, Washington
24. Andrew Nembhard, So., G, Florida
23. Ashton Hagans, So., G, Kentucky
22. Ayo Dosunmu, So., G, Illinois
21. Killian Tillie, Sr., F, Gonzaga
20. Xavier Tillman, Jr., F, Michigan State
19. Trevion Williams, So., F, Purdue
18. Jalen Smith, So., F, Maryland
17. Tristan Clark, Jr., F, Baylor
16. Sam Merrill, Sr., G, Utah State
15. Kaleb Wesson, Jr., C, Ohio State
14. Udoka Azubuike, Sr., C, Kansas
13. Jarron Cumberland, Sr., G, Cincinnati
12. Devon Dotson, So., G, Kansas
11. Anthony Edwards, Fr., G, Georgia
10. Lamar Stevens, Sr., F, Penn State
9. Anthony Cowan Jr., Sr., Maryland
8. Tre Jones, So., G, Duke
7. Kerry Blackshear Jr., Sr., Florida
6. Jordan Nwora, Jr., F, Louisville
5. Cole Anthony, Fr., G, North Carolina
4. James Wiseman, Fr., C, Memphis
3. Myles Powell, Sr., G, Seton Hall
2. Markus Howard, Sr., G, Marquette
1. Cassius Winston, Sr., G, Michigan State
Honorable mention: McKinley Wright IV, Jr., G, Colorado; Yoeli Childs, Sr., F, BYU; Kamar Baldwin, Sr., G, Butler; Anthony Lamb, Sr., F, Vermont; Nathan Knight, Sr., C, William & Mary; Zavier Simpson, Sr., G, Michigan; Markell Johnson, Sr., G, NC State; Nico Mannion, Fr., G, Arizona; Davide Moretti, Jr., G, Texas Tech; Jordan Ford, Sr., G, Saint Mary’s; Tres Tinkle, Sr., F, Oregon State; Payton Pritchard, Sr., G, Oregon; Mamadi Diakite, Jr., Virginia; Xavier Sneed, Sr., Kansas State; Joe Wieskamp, Iowa.
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