Pass is a kid we REALLY like and Shaw seems to mention all of the reasons we feel that way. This kid is the son of a former coach, he’s got elite-level body control and a very high on-floor IQ. He’s also a very consistent shooter from deep, he’s a lock down defender, and, in high school at least, he’s done a great job of finishing at the rim.
Watch the highlight reel below. When we say Pass is a good finisher at the rim, we aren’t talking about a kid who has NBA-ready bounce, but we are talking about someone who has unbelievable body control on the drive. He initiates contact to create space, he uses step-throughs (euro-steps) to create angles and he’s very aware, not just of his defender, but of the help side defenders. These are things that don’t show up on the stat sheet and are often overlooked in the highlight reels, but they are, in our eyes, some of the most important skills to have when looking at how well a guy is going to transition to ACC basketball.
Shaw echos what a lot of scouts have been saying about Pass all along. Even with his physical skill set, it’s his leadership skills and his work ethic that are his most advanced attributes. He’s poised, but explosive. He’s focused, but fiery. He’s calculated, but he keeps defender on their heels.
Look around at NC State right now. What is missing?
Well, there are multiple things missing at this point, but one glaring absence is true leadership.
Next year your upperclassmen will be Bates, Hellems, and Allen. Bates is a ‘lead by example’ type guy and Allen will still only be in his second season with the Wolfpack (due to transfer). Hellems is a guy who is definitely going to step up and claim a leadership role. But in basketball, your point guard is your coach on the floor, and leadership from that position is a must-have if you want to find consistent success in the ACC.
As for this year’s freshmen? I think you’ll see Cam Hayes eventually come along, but he’s always been a bit soft-spoken. Dereon Seabron isn’t going to be a vocal guy, at least not yet. That leaves you with Shakeel Moore. I think Moore will eventually become a very good leader and I think you’ll start to see that as soon as late next season. But Moore spent most of his high school years playing with Josh Hall (who committed to State but opted for the NBA) , who was the defacto leader of his team, so we really haven’t seen Moore lead a team.
Pass is going to come in ready to lead. As all freshmen, he’ll likely take a role secondary to Hellems, and he’ll have to fight through the lumps of transitioning to the ACC, but this kid has ‘it’ when it comes to leadership. He’s a high-character, polite kid, but he’s got a fire and a focus to him that can’t be taught.
You’ll see Breon listed as a 3 star in some places and 4 star in others, but make no mistake, Keatts knows he’s better than that. In fact earlier this season he said Pass was going to be the steal of the class (nationally). A lot of fans are going to be focused on Terquavion Smith and his elite scoring potential and Earnest Ross with his raw athleticism (both NC State commits), but Pass is the key to the future success of NC State. And before you get all up in arms about that statement, I’m not talking about what Pass is capable of on the stat sheet (and he is capable of a lot), I’m talking about the intangibles.
There is a layer to basketball that isn’t talked about much because it can’t be quantified. Those who haven’t played or haven’t experienced that side of the game will argue that it’s not as important as some make it out to be. However, those who have, know it’s the difference between winning and losing.
Keatts is building a culture here, whether you see that or not. He’s bringing players of all different skill sets, sure, but the guys he’s focused on, on the recruiting trail, all have a very similar mindset and work ethic. They all play the same brand of basketball and Pass might be the most advanced on that side of things that’s we’ve seen in a Keatts freshman.
Doubt him if you want to because of he’s not a 5-star recruit, but pay attention to this kid. He’s going to be important.
NC State 2024 4-star signee Paul McNeil had himself a night, posting an insane double-double, scoring 50 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in Richmond County’s 90-45 dismantling of First Flight last night.
McNeil was 21 of 32 from the field, and 7 of 12 from beyond the arc. Let’s not forget to note that he also led his team in assists, with 4.
ESPN ranks McNeil as the #57 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and ON3 ranks him as the #6 player in the state of North Carolina.
Parker was supposed to be a freshman this year at NC State, but he reclassified into the 2024 class, meaning if all goes according to plan, he’ll be here next year.
And if you think this kid is just about dunking, then you missed his performance last year against the #1 ranked PG Robert Dillingham, where he dropped 18 pts and dished out 4 assists in the win. We had an in-depth write-up on the game right after it happened. Check it out.
While the focus should be on this years team, it’s never too early to get excited about a commit that’s putting together highlight reels like this.
The NC State Men’s Basketball team hosted 3 recruits this past weekend: 4-Star 2025 Point Guard Jordan Lowery, 4-Star 2025 Small Forward AJ White and 3-Star 2024 Center Chol Machot.
I confirmed with all three players that they were on NC State’s campus for an unofficial visit.
On September 12, NC State offered 4-Star 2025 Point Guard Jordan Lowery (6’1″/175) out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He already holds offers from TCU, SMU, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, St. Louis, Wichita St, ECU and Virginia Tech. Rivals ranks Lowery as the #110 overall player nationally, and ON3 ranks him as the #9 player in the state of North Carolina. Lowery was also in for an unofficial visit to NC State earlier in September as well.
The Wolfpack coaches were in to visit 4-Star 2025 Small Forward AJ White (6’8″/180) out of Charlotte, North Carolina in the middle of September. Rivals ranks White as the #28 overall player nationally in 2025, and he is the consensus #1 player in the state. White holds offers from NC State, South Carolina, Cincy, Texas, Syracuse, Georgia, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Mississippi St., LSU, FSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgetown, Ohio St. and others.
The NC State coaching staff was into see Machot (7’0″), and his teammate Lowery in the middle of September. ON3 ranks Machot as a 3-star prospect, and the #14 player in the state of North Carolina.
NC State is trying to reel in a Legacy Recruit in 2026 Tight End/Power Forward Kendre Harrison. Harrison is the nephew of former Wolfpack guard, C.C. Harrison.
Harrison is a unicorn. The young sensation out of Reidsville High School (Reidsville, NC), is a 4-star prospect in both football and basketball. In fact, he’s on track to be a 5-star prospect in both sports, which is unheard of.
In regards to football, Harrison is the #5 overall player nationally in the 2026 class according to 247Sports, and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina (Reidsville High School). In basketball, he ranks 20th overall nationally according to ESPN, the #5 Power Forward, and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina.
The #1 player in the state of North Carolina in both sports in 2026.
NC State offered him in football back in January, and he was offered by the basketball team back on September 16th.
I checked in with Harrison to see what it meant to him to be offered in both football and basketball by NC State, and what it was like to visit a few weeks back for the VMI game and watch the basketball team practice.
“It means a lot to be offered in both sports, knowing I can make a difference in the program.”
Harrison made it clear that he intends to play both sports at the next level. He doesn’t find it to be a balancing act at all, playing both basketball and football.
I just have to remember how bad I want it and what my end goal is. I have to remember that I’m doing this for my mom and family.
Harrison enjoyed every aspect of his time on NC State’s campus a few weeks back.
It was a great experience. I loved how the coaches coached basketball and football. I just loved everything about the visit.
Uncle C.C. is a hero of Kendre’s, and he has learned so much from him, on the court, and off the court.
He has taught me a lot of things about basketball and outside of basketball, especially throughout my recruitment process.
