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Basketball Recruiting

NC State Offers 4-Star PG Jalen Cone

Published

4 years ago

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Truthfully, I have no idea why it took so long for this to happen.

NC State’s Kevin Keatts went and watched 4-Star 2020 Point Guard Jalen Cone (5’9″/163) workout today, and left him with an offer.

Cone has been on NC State’s campus numerous times, and attended the Virginia Tech (WHY GOD?) this season.

He’s ranked as the #55 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class according to ESPN, and the #3 player in the state of North Carolina. 247Sports ranks him as the #11 point guard.

Here’s the catch.

Cone has been offered in both the 2019 and 2020 class.

Earlier this month Cone revealed that not only could he potentially reclassify to the 2019 class, but that he was seriously considering it.

“Things are starting to pick up a little bit more but with the news that some colleges are offering me to come early because of some guys entering the draft and others not coming back,” Cone said about a potential move into the 2019 class. “They need somebody to fill the point guard position so things are really starting to pick up.”

“Really, it will be all about what is best for me and figuring out if I need another year of high school to mature my game more but if it is good for me to go to college and play now or even redshirt, then that would be the option I would choose,” Cone said. “If I do it, I would have to decide very soon so I would have to look at what the best fit is for me and to see how long the coaches are going to be there. I don’t want to go early to college and then they leave after I am there for just one year.”

Rivals

Tennessee was the first school to offer Cone as a 2019 recruit, and Texas A&M, Providence, Boston College, and Ole Miss followed suit.

Out of all those schools, NC State is the only North Carolina school, and Cone plays for Walkertown High School (Kernersville, NC). He averaged 25.7 points and 6.6 assists for the Wolfpack.

Yeah, you read that right. Cone’s high school mascot is the Wolfpack. Colors: Red, White and Black. It’s downright comical…or maybe providential.

NC State technically only has one scholarship left right now for 2019. Valparaiso Graduate Transfer Center Derrik Smits took an official visit this past weekend, and Charleston Southern Graduate Transfer Guard Christian Keeling is taking an Official Visit on the weekend of May 3rd.

Obviously there isn’t room for Smits, Keeling, and Cone, or even two of the three at this point.

Small hunch?

Maybe Keatts and crew has a good idea that either 4-star signee Jalen Lecque plans on staying in the NBA Draft, or Senior Point Guard Markell Johnson won’t be returning.

In my opinion, Cone isn’t a player that you take simply if Johnson or Lecque aren’t in Raleigh next year. Cone is a player that you get on your roster no matter what it takes, no matter the recruiting class.

Cone is a rare talent. He is an elite scorer, possesses filthy handles, and has a good handle on Damian Lillard’s side-step jumper. Don’t let the 5’9″ height concern you. He had a 41-inch vertical two years ago, and will put someone on a poster in a second.

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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

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

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4 weeks 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!

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4 weeks 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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Basketball Recruiting

Top-25 2024 SG Paul McNeil is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Next Weekend

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1 month ago

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February 12, 2023

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2024 4-Star Shooting Guard Paul McNeil (6’6″/185) will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next weekend.

ESPN ranks McNeil as the #17 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina. I don’t understand how recruiting databases work, but at some point this year he will be a 5-star player according to ESPN as long as he stays in the Top-25.

McNeil plays for Richmond Senior in Rockingham, North Carolina.

This is huge for NC State to get a player of McNeil’s caliber to come in for an Official Visit this early in the process.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star G Austin Swartz Picks Up an Offer from NC State on Visit

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2 months ago

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January 5, 2023

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4-Star 2024 Shooting Guard Austin Swartz (6’5″/180) took an unofficial visit to NC State yesterday, and he left with a scholarship offer.

Swartz plays for Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina. ON3 ranks him as the #65 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the #7 player in the state of North Carolina.

He already holds offers from Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia, Illinois, Houston and others.

 

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