Dusan Mahorcic isn’t a household name. Hell, I don’t even know how to pronounce that last name. But who cares, if the guy can fill a void in the paint for NC State, then I’ll welcome him with open arms.
Yesterday, Mohorcic chose NC State after spending the past two seasons at Utah.
Mahorcic actually isn’t new to this transfer game. Prior to landing at Utah, he played at Lewis University, then went to a community college, before heading to Illinois State. So yeah, the guy has been around.
On top of that, he was suspended by Utah midway through the season last year for undisclosed reasons.
Everything I’ve told you is probably scaring you. But hear me out.
I really didn’t even need to see the stats. I saw Mahorcic’s highlight reel and immediately knew he was the big we needed (of the ones we targeted). Keatts has everyone convinced that you need a big, long, athletic shot-blocker in the middle. But how has that worked out for him? Aside from Bates, who is a 1 in 1000 type of shot-blocker? Spoiler alert…it hasn’t.
NC State and their band of long, wrangly guards who are slashers first and shooters second, need a back to the basket, physical, fundamental big man. I mean, look at the NCAA Tournament teams? Most of them didn’t have giant shot-blockers roaming the middle. Most of them had fundamental bigs who could rebound, pass and score on the block.
I’ve found it crazy that Keatts hasn’t targeted a big like this before. You have a team of guys who really struggle to shoot it consistently, and you don’t have a ‘dump it down’ big to take some pressure off when shots aren’t falling.
Mohorcic is that guy.
And if you want to point to his stats, go ahead, they ain’t that bad. While at Illinois State he was a 10 point, 7 board guy in 24 minutes per game. At Utah he was a 5.5 point, 4 rebound guy in 14 minutes. During this past season, he was stuck behind Utah’s best player who was a 7-foot center. The point is, last year was right in line with his per-minute numbers at Illinois State.
⚜️ Available Transfer ⚜️
Dusan Mahorcic 🧩Versatile Forward🧩 Utah **1 Year of Eligibility Remaining**
Meanwhile, NC State was getting beasted in the paint by any and everyone. Dowuona needs to add some aggression if he wants to change that. Gibson is gone to the portal. So now you have Mahorcic, who is 6’10, 225lbs, and a bulldog on the block. He’s a high motor guy who is going to hustle and throw his weight around. He’s not going to block many shots, but he’s crafty around the basket and a decent finisher.
I’m putting the prediction out now. Screenshot it. Mahorcic is going to be a big factor on this NC State team next season. He’s a guy who can pass it from the high post, score it from the block, and a guy who is going to play extremely physical no matter who he’s up against. Sure, he’ll be out-athlete’d on occasion, but for that, we have to hope Dowuona takes another step up next season.
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.
Papajohn
1 year ago
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!
Afterglow
1 year ago
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.
Dof87
1 year ago
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)
Last edited 1 year ago by Dof87
Rev
1 year ago
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.
Boston Transfer Center Caitlin Weimar (6’4″) is currently on an Official Visit to NC State.
Sources tell me Caitlin Weimar (6’4” Forward transfer from Boston U) is currently on a visit to NC State.
She ranked 44th in D1 (scoring) last season at 18.7 ppg & 15th in rebounding at 10.6 rpg, in addition to 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg & 2.8 bpg. pic.twitter.com/d2y4jACx2K
Weimar is the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, and has been named Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. She has earned 1st Team Patriot League Honors the past two seasons.
This year, Weimar averaged 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. As a Junior, she averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. She shot 55.5% this year, and 59.7% last year.
With NC State not having River Baldwin at Center next year, adding Weimar is an extremely exciting possibility.
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.
_______
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.
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.
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.