NC State Basketball
Wolferetti: NC State lands 6’10 Dusan Mahorcic in the transfer portal AND I LOVE IT!
What did an ACC Title & Final Four mean to NC State Legend TJ Warren? I caught up with the man who won the ACC Player of the Year Award in 2014 to get his take.
What was it like for you watching NC State go from the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament, to winning the Championship, to going to the Final Four?
I’m a second generation Wolfpack basketball player. Wolf blood runs through my veins, so to be able to witness a ride like that was truly amazing.
What did this run say about Kevin Keatts and these players? In what ways did you see them adapt, change or persevere?
I think that is speaks to the heart that the players have. As a 10th seed in the ACC tournament, it’s easy to pack it in and look towards the offseason, but they did the opposite. They bonded together over adversity and that’s what made them so endearing. Hard work in the face of adversity, that’s something that Wolfpack fans can relate to.
As one of the best players to ever wear the Red & White, what did this run mean to you personally?
As I mentioned earlier, NCSU hoops has been in my family for a long time, so it meant a whole lot personally. This run definitely took me back to some of the fond memories I have of putting on the Red & White and playing in front of a packed house at the PNC.
What was the most memorable moment for you?
I think Mike’s shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. It just felt like destiny at that point. Anytime you get to beat UNC and Duke days apart is special too.
How do you think this run can change things for the NC State Basketball program going forward?
I think that it puts us back on the national radar where we belong. After a magical run like that, I think it makes players want to be a part of that. A run like that reinvigorates a program definitely.
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Warren is 1 of only 6 NC State players to ever be named the ACC Player of the Year. In his Sophomore season, Warren was named a 2nd Team All-American by Sporting News and the AP. He averaged 24.9 points per game, which is the 5th best mark in a single season in NC State history. Warren scored 871 points that year, which is the most points ever scored in a single season by a Wolfpack player.
TJ was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
NC State Forward Ernest Ross announced today that he is entering the Transfer Portal.
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Ross played in 14 games this year, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in the 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
Ross has one more year of eligibility remaining.
NC State has 3 scholarships available now.
Best of luck Ernest!
This is something I support. He appears to be one of those players on the verge of breaking out, and he’s exactly the sort we’re looking for: someone who enjoys being in the paint and thrives on contact. Perhaps he’ll spread it.
Glad to have your comments! Good to have new voices. This guy makes me think of Dan Wells ( Dirty Dan) to the pre- Thompson era fans.
As @Afterglow said, love that physicality! If the clip is any indicator, he will fight for a rebound and a put-back. We need bigs that will slow / discourage the opposition from going inside and is enough of an offensive threat to keep them honest inside – clearly lacking last season.
Isn’t it ironic that, just like DJF, he’s a big who was kicked off his previous team for unspecified rule breaking?
We need Dusan to have his career best season. Let’s go!
I’m all for this addition. He feels like one of those players who’s ready to bloom, and he’s exactly the type we need; someone who likes the paint and thrives on contact. Maybe he will be contagious.
I remember a bearded player who could pull down some boards. Would love to see a Serbian version of “the beard” (and no, I’m not talking about Braxton Beverly)
Can’t believe their aren’t more people commenting how great it was to fill an absolutely critical hole in our lineup. Guess the news is over 24 hours old. One more scholarship available. If we can find another pure shooter who is deadly from 3, I’ll take him.