Connect with us

NC State Basketball

NC State’s Terquavion Smith Will Forgo His Remaining College Eligibility & Declare for NBA Draft

Published

2 months ago

on

Well, it’s official. NC State Sophomore Terquavion Smith will forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and officially declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.

Here’s what Smith had to say to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony regarding his decision.

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

“I showed a lot of different things this year,” Smith said. “Teams wanted to see me be more of a point guard, making the right play, making the right decisions. They wanted to see me improve my finishing, and I increased that. I showed I can be a leader.”

“I improved my grades. I’m a year closer to getting my degree now. You only get one chance to be a college student and get that college vibe. There was no rush for me. I’m ready to contribute to an NBA team now.”

“I’m feeling good about everything now,” Smith said. “I came back to do what I needed to do. I feel like I did everything the right way. I know what’s coming now in the pre-draft process because I’ve been there already and know what to expect. I’ll be a lot more confident in myself now. It’s going to be a straight grind.” (ESPN)

Smith earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors this year, averaging 17.9 points and 4.1 assists per game.

He currently ranks 30th on ESPN’s Top-100 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings. In most NBA Mock Drafts, Smith is projected as a late first round pick.

Smith’s career scoring average of 17.1 ranks 8th in school history. He made 187 three point shots in two seasons, ranking 8th all-time in NC State history. His 96 made three-pointers last year are the most ever by a Freshman in school history, and his 91 made three-pointers made this year are the most ever by a Sophomore.

If Smith goes on to be taken in the 1st round of the 2023 NBA Draft, it will be the first person to do so from NC State since Dennis Smith Jr. was taken 9th overall in 2017. If Smith is taken in the first round, the would become the 17th player in school history to do so.

Related Topics:

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.

12 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
12 Comments
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rev
Rev
1 month ago

Not exactly pertinent for this thread, but I am just astounded that the Keatts haters still dominate most of the forums. Some of them are just anger-filled people who take out their life disappointments on our sports teams, especially Keatts. Many are suffering from rectoptic syndrome (rectal interference with the optic nerve causes a shitty outlook).

0
Rev
Rev
1 month ago

Glad the announcement wasn’t delayed any further. It has to help with the transfer situation, if only to confirm that there are at least 60 minutes per game available in our backcourt.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago

KK needs to get the Ryan kid from Notre Dame on this team. Too good to pass on.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago

The kids from Temple or Arizona State would be a good choice. Both are from NC.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago

Thank God, the ball hog is gone. Anhyone that has to shoot as many times as he does should average 30 points a game not 17.

-2
Papajohn
Papajohn
2 months ago

WHAT???? OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As many times as he came crashing down on the floor and got back up and kept on playing, we were really lucky he didn’t leave after year one.
Certainly Keatts’ best ‘find’ ever, so far.
Thanks T!

1
Dof87
Dof87
2 months ago

Another day goes by with no LJ or Pass in the portal. Also, no Miranda in the portal or announcing for the draft. I like no news like that.

I am more concerned with ensuring we have a dominant athletic big man than I am with guard acquisitions. Then a scoring compliment to Ross, who could be a breakout player next year.

1
Afterglow
Afterglow
2 months ago
Reply to  Dof87

I would lean more toward point guard, but I guess a lot of that depends on what Dusan does (or can do?). Maybe that’s to your point, though. Hell, I’m greedy, give me both a point guard and a big man, with a side of anything else I want.

But, back to point guards, Taran Armstrong is interesting. 6’5″ and for 2022-23, he averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 5.0 APG. Seems pretty solid to me but I wonder if we’re looking at him.

Last edited 2 months ago by Afterglow
1
Dof87
Dof87
2 months ago
Reply to  Afterglow

I’m just more confident KK will find the guard(s) we need. Not saying they are less important.

0
Rev
Rev
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

I too wonder why Armstrong is not getting more attention.

0
Dof87
Dof87
2 months ago

I’m pulling for him to find great success. Great person on top of a memorable player.

1
Afterglow
Afterglow
2 months ago

It’s the right thing to do, after all, I’d hate to see him stay and get injured.

2

NC State Basketball

D.J. Burns is OFFICIALLY BACK!

Published

1 month ago

on

April 27, 2023

By

Well, it’s OFFICIAL. D.J Burns will be returning to NC State for his final year of collegiate eligibility!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DJ Burns / BIG 30♨️ (@dj.b30)

This confirms everything I’d been hearing about the return of Burns. Burns was the key to the Wolfpack offense running effectively this past year. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2022-23, but he elevated his game in ACC play, averaging 16.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in conference games.

Burns is celebrating his return to run with the Wolfpack by dropping his own Big 30 merch. Go over and snag something.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Isaiah Miranda is an Early Entry Candidate for the 2023 NBA Draft

Published

1 month ago

on

April 26, 2023

By

The NBA released the names of the 242 players that have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2023 last night, and NC State’s Isaiah Miranda’s name was on the list.

Miranda (7’1″/225) joined the Wolfpack back in December, deciding to forgo the remainder of his prep season. Miranda didn’t see the court for NC State, resulting in a redshirt season.

ON3 ranked Miranda as the #16 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class.

It makes perfect sense for a player like Miranda, with his height and athleticism, to go through the draft process to be evaluated on what he needs to continue to work on. As an early entrant, Miranda has the ability to pull his name out of the draft and remain a collegiate athlete.

I don’t expect Miranda to keep his name in the hat when the time comes. From what I hear his game has tons of potential, but he still needs to fine tune his craft. Also, Miranda shared this on social media, implying he will be back in the Red and White next year.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra Commits to NC State

Published

1 month ago

on

April 24, 2023

By

NC State picked up their 5th transfer today. Mohamed Diarra (6’10″/215) committed to run with the Wolfpack today while in Raleigh on an Official Visit.

Diarra originally spent his first two seasons at Garden City Community College, averaging 17.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second season. He landed at Missouri last year, after being rated as the #1 JUCO prospect in the 2022 class according to JucoRecruiting.com.

In his only season at Missouri, Diarra averaged 11.7 minutes per game in 25 games played (6 starts), averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. Because of the extra year due to Covid, Diarra has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

With news breaking today that Dusan Mahorcic entered the Transfer Portal, the Wolfpack found his replacement. NC State’s frontcourt in 2023-24 currently will be made up of D.J. Burns, Ben Middlebrooks, Mohamed Diarra and Ernest Ross.

Check out these highlights of Diarra.

There is a lot to like in Diarra’s game. He is athletic, can hit a jump shot, put the ball on the floor, can play defense on the perimeter, block shots, and is an aggressive rebounder.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra is On an Official Visit to NC State Today

Published

1 month ago

on

April 24, 2023

By

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra (6’10″/215) is on an Official Visit to NC State today. Diarra originally spent his first two seasons at Garden City Community College, averaging 17.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second season. He landed at Missouri last year, after being rated as the #1 JUCO prospect in the 2022 class according to JucoRecruiting.com.

In his only season at Missouri, Diarra averaged 11.7 minutes per game in 25 games played (6 starts), averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. Because of the extra year due to Covid, Diarra has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

Diarra entered the Transfer Portal on March 28th.

Continue Reading