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Former 5-Star G MJ Rice Commits to NC State!

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Former 5-Star Guard (2022) MJ Rice has committed to NC State!

 

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A post shared by 2️⃣5️⃣2️⃣ (@mjrice2)

The Kansas transfer played in 23 games for the Jayhawks as a Freshman this past year, averaging 2.2 points in 7.6 minutes per game. ON3 ranked Rice as the #24 overall player nationally in the 2022 recruiting class. They also ranked him as the #2 overall player in the Transfer Portal.

NC State isn’t new to Rice. Keatts recruited him heavily, and used to play right down the road in Durham in High School. The Wolfpack coaching staff has crushed the Transfer Portal, adding Butler’s Jayden Taylor, Arizona State’s D.J. Horne, Clemson’s Ben Middlebrooks, and now Rice.

Rice has three years of eligibility remaining.

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.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago

Is State finished with the portal?

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

I don’t think so. On a completely different note (or not), Caleb Mills a transfer from Florida State, is at Memphis averages: 3.4 assists, 83.6% free throws, 29.6% from 3-point range, and 41.0% overall from the floor. Granted, he’s a combo guard (although listed as a point guard for Memphis), but I wonder if that would have any impact on whether he would want to go there.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

“He” as in, Bradley wanting to go there.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago

Bradley visited Memphis today and this is part of what the article had to say:

Earlier in the week Bradley met with North Carolina State, but today he will be meeting with the Memphis Tigers. With Penny Hardaway at the helm Memphis has become a very attractive landing spot for a lot of guys in the portal and I wouldn’t be shocked if this is where Bradley lands.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Don’t know if that means anything but don’t love that we weren’t his last visit. Anyone know how many portal players we’ve nabbed so far where NC State was their last visit?

Dof87
Dof87
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

You want to be their first and last visit.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Dof87

Okay. So that unexpected visit was his first. Hopefully we get another. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance!”

Rev
Rev
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Hardaway has a great message and Memphis is definitely positioning itself as one of the big players. I have no idea what our chances are, but my gut says Bradley is a long shot for State.

Dof87
Dof87
1 month ago
Reply to  Rev

Memphis does have a lot of appeal as a program, probably very good NIL funding, and their coach is a compelling recruiter. But also they’ve had their share of off court problems similar to Alabama. If Bradley and his family want to stay further away from that type of stuff, State might look appealing. But I won’t pretend to know what they really are thinking.

He didn’t announce right after Memphis visit so maybe we are still in contention.

Dof87
Dof87
1 month ago

New Pack Pride article headline basically says Miranda committed to staying. Staving off the rumors of him leaving.

Rev
Rev
1 month ago
Reply to  Dof87

If I could LIKE this post twice I would!

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Rev

Yep. Same. Like!

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago
Reply to  Dof87

Wow, I miss a day on the internet and Miranda “leaves” and comes back on the same day.
Nice to see him saying he’s put on muscle and he is excited for next season. I’m pretty excited too.

Dof87
Dof87
1 month ago

Gantt is going to UNC Asheville.

Rev
Rev
1 month ago
Reply to  Dof87

I live just on the other side of the river from UNCA. I will get to see him play.

Rev
Rev
1 month ago

I still worry that Morsell could get some good feedback and decide to turn pro. Rice is definitely a small forward but strong. At 6’5” and 225 lbs I see him in Morsell’s slot. That is a ton of talent at the 3. Also, Dusan does not count against our 13 scholarships until he gets a medical waiver from the NCAA. And those bassturds have never done us any favors.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Rev

I think it’s good he’s testing the waters. I don’t want him to go but if he does come back, that in all likelihood will work out for us.

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago

Someone posted on BTP that they heard we are about to sign a big kid transferring from Missouri, former JUCO player.
Reading the tea leaves is impossible, but makes you wonder if that signals Dusan isn’t coming back.
I was really hoping for a PG, I’d be disappointed.

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago
Reply to  Papajohn

If it is MOHAMED DIARRA, he is a project with three years of eligibility left. He was No 1 JUCO, but looks a lot like DOWUONA.

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

Yep, that’s the guy. I had forgotten his name.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Papajohn

Unless there are other moving parts to that situation (which there very well could be) I would think that would be a strange pickup. Even if Dusan did not qualify, you’d think we’d go for someone who was more so ready to play. And, isn’t he a graduate transfer? Seems odd if you ask me. My hope is we get Bradley. From there, everything else is just gravy.

Last edited 1 month ago by Afterglow
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

He was a JUCO and had four years of eligibility which he used one at Missouri during 22-23 season. Seems like he has three more years.

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Agree with you, I hope this is another bit of bad information. If we could get a really good PG, this team could really be special. And some of the pieces could stick around awhile – at least from an available eligibility standpoint.

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago

So, if we snag Bradley next, are we done? I would expect to possibly have a couple of players transfer from State should we get another point, specifically Pass. I would also be totally fine if no one transferred. I like all our players and the depth they bring at each position. Talk about being loaded if everyone should stay, and stay healthy.

I would be most disappointed if Ross or MJ chose to jump ship.

Last edited 1 month ago by Afterglow
Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

LJ?

Afterglow
Afterglow
1 month ago
Reply to  Papajohn

Yep. Not MJ. Sorry.

Papajohn
Papajohn
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Too many ‘J’s!!

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago
Reply to  Afterglow

Pass is a good NC kid, but just hasn’t shown anything yet. He should transfer now if he knows what good for him. Anyone know anything about Mahorcic? If his medical is accepted and uses a scholarship, then we are at our limit. Bradley would be a good get with three years potential but someone will have to transfer or walk on.

Dof87
Dof87
1 month ago
Reply to  wolfpack74

If Pass decides to move on we’ll find out in due time. Until then I don’t think any of us should pretend we know what is best for him. That would required intimate knowledge of what makes him happy, what he wants out of life, who he wants to spend time with, how much NIL money he is making, etc. Seeing how things worked out for Moore and Hayes sure doesn’t make leaving very compelling. Maybe being part of a team that is shaping up to be a really fun one is the best thing for him. Who knows, I… Read more »

wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 month ago
Reply to  Dof87

If he wants playing time, time to move on. He didn’t get much time last year and we have added one more guard in front of him counting Rice as a potential 2 or 3.

NC State Basketball

D.J. Burns is OFFICIALLY BACK!

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

 

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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.

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NC State Basketball

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

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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.

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NC State Basketball

Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra Commits to NC State

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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.

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NC State Basketball

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

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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.

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