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4-Star Dennis Parker Talks Commitment to NC State: PI EXCLUSIVE

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2 years ago

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4-Star 2023 Small Forward Dennis Parker committed to NC State yesterday. I caught up with Parker to get his take on his verbal commitment.

“I worked hard for this. I wasn’t always as versatile as I am now. In the 8th grade I was playing the 5, and 4 sometimes, at Center. I knew I couldn’t go to college at that height playing Center, so I had to work really hard the past 4 years to get where I’m at today.”

“I let them [NC State] know Monday that I was going to come down, but we kept it on the low until today. Coach Keatts was texting me while I was on stage before I made the announcement. Some silly stuff. He has a crazy sense of humor. You wouldn’t even expect it either.” 

“Coach Keatts had called my head coach at John Marshall [when they offered after his freshman season], because he couldn’t directly call me. My head coach called my dad, and merged us in. He offered me and talked with us on the phone for a good 30 minutes, telling me how much they really like my game and that he would stay in contact.”

“They told me what they would do, and what their plan was, and they stuck to that plan, if I was to come there. They stayed in contact. They showed up to most of my games this AAU season. Even when they were losing last year, they were staying in contact with me, saying that they needed me.” 

“He [Keatts] said he had to go harder for me, because I’m one of his Virginia boys.”

“Growing up, I really loved to watch Cat Barber. Before I even knew who NC State was, I loved to watch Cat Barber [from Virginia as well]. I liked Dennis Smith too when he came through. He was one of my favorites coming out of high school. I was like wow, the fact that I’m going there, maybe I can follow in his footsteps.”

“They can see me coming in and making an immediate impact as a Freshman. They think I can play 1-3, and guard 1-4. They see me as a very versatile Point Guard/Shooting Guard, who can pass, shoot and finish at the rim.” 

“I would say I’m a true Guard, because I have a pass first mindset. I would say I’m a Shooting Guard.” 

“I see a lot of similarities between me and Dereon Seabron. We love getting to the basket, drawing two and kicking to the corner. I love finishing at the basket as much as he does. I’m happy for him, because he’s in New Orleans now.” 

“I just want to go out with a bang. I want to win. After I committed, we had a little ring ceremony, for out state championship, so I want to get another one of those. I would have run it back 4 times, if they let me get my Covid year back [they won the state championship his Freshman year, and his Sophomore year was cancelled due to Covid.].” 

“When the rankings came out this summer, I felt disrespected, but it’s nothing but encouragement and motivation for me. That’s how I take it. Pushes me to get better.” 

You can check out highlights of Parker in his VIDEO VAULT her.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star Guard/Forward Bryce Heard Commits to NC State!

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2 days ago

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July 24, 2024

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4-Star Guard/Forward Bryce Heard has verbally committed to NC State! He chose to Run with the Wolfpack over a Final 4 that also included USC, Mississippi St., and Xavier.

Heard took an Official Visit to NC State beginning on June 23rd.

247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all rank Heard as a 4-Star prospect. Rivals ranks him as the #95 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class. 247Sports ranks him as the #16 Combo Guard in the class, and they also rank him as the #2 player in the state of Illinois.

As a Junior this past season at Homewood-Flossmoor (Chicago, Illinois), Heard averaged 19 point, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Heard is the 3rd member of NC State’s 2024 recruiting class, joining 4-Star Guard/Forward Paul McNeil and 3-Star Guard Trey Parker.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star Guard Davion Hannah Includes NC State in Top-9, Schedules Official Visit

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4 days ago

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July 23, 2024

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4-Star 2025 Guard Davion Hannah (6’5″/180) released his Top-9 schools yesterday, and NC State made the cut along with Alabama, Pitt, Xavier, Cincinnati, Michigan St., Louisville, Ohio St. and Wisconsin.

Hannah will be taking an Official Visit to NC State on October 5th.

NC State offered Hannah on June 19th.

Hannah is right on the cusp of being a 5-star prospect. 247Sports ranks him as the #27 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, the #4 Combo Guard, and the #3 player in the state of  Missouri.

This past season as a Junior at Nicolet High School (Glendale, Wisconsin), Hannah averaged 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He also just participated in the NBA Top 100 camp, and was one of the standouts.

For his Senior season, Hannah has transferred to Link Academy in Branson, Missouri.

 

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Basketball Recruiting

5-Star Shooting Guard Darius Adams Schedules Official Visit to NC State

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1 week ago

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July 19, 2024

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5-Star 2025 Shooting Guard Darius Adams (6’4″/165) has scheduled an Official Visit to NC State for September 6-8.

Rivals ranks Adams as the #16 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class. ESPN and 247Sports rank him as the #4 Shooting Guard in the class. 247Sports and ON3 rank him as the #2 player in the state of Indiana, playing for La Lumiere School in La Porte.

He has also scheduled Official Visits to Tennessee, Michigan St., Alabama, UCONN and Notre Dame.

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Basketball Recruiting

4-Star G/F Bryce Heard Includes NC State in Final 4, Decision Coming Next Week

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1 week ago

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July 17, 2024

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4-Star 2025 Guard/Forward Bryce Heard (6’6″/190) has trimmed his list of schools to 4, with NC State making the cut along with USC, Mississippi St. and Xavier. He will be announcing his college decision next Wednesday, July 24th.

Heard took an Official Visit to NC State beginning on June 23rd.

247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all rank Heard as a 4-Star prospect. Rivals ranks him as the #95 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class. 247Sports ranks him as the #16 Combo Guard in the class, and they also rank him as the #2 player in the state of Illinois.

As a Junior this past season at Homewood-Flossmoor (Chicago, Illinois), Heard averaged 19 point, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

From where things currently stand, NC State looks like they are in a good position to land Heard.

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