NC State Soars in the 2025-26 Preseason Rothstein 45 Rankings After Two Recent Commitments

After the commitments of Texas Tech Transfer Forward Darrion Williams and International Prep Shooting Guard Jayme Kontuniemi, NC State has jumped all the way up to #28 in Jon Rothstein’s 2025-26 Preseason Rankings. He ranks them 4th in the ACC.

The Wolfpack was ranked 45th in Rothstein’s original rankings.

1. Houston
2. Purdue
3. St. John’s
4. Florida
5. UCLA
6. BYU
7. UCONN
8. Michigan
9. Duke
10. Texas
11. Arkansas
12. Kentucky
13. Arizona
14. Iowa St.
15. Auburn
16. Louisville
17. Tennessee
18. Oregon
19. Michigan St.
20. Illinois
21. Gonzaga
22. Alabama
23. Wisconsin
24. Creighton
25. Texas
26. Ohio St.
27. UNC
28. NC State
29. USC
30. Miami
31. San Diego St.
32. Missouri
33. Kansas
34. Maryland
35. Mississippi St.
36. Marquette
37. Cincinnati
38. Nebraska
39. Oklahoma
40. Georgetown
41. Baylor
42. Georgia
43. Northwestern
44. TCU
45. Notre Dame

28. NC State

Projected Starting 5:

G Tre Holloman

G Terrance Arceneaux

F Darrion Williams

F Jerry Deng

C Paul Mbiya

Projected Bench: Alyn Breed, Matt Able, Paul McNeil, Colt Langdon, Quadir Copeland, Zymicah Wilkins, Jayme Kontuniemi

Key Newcomers: Tre Holloman (Michigan State), Alyn Breed (McNeese), Quadir Copeland (McNeese), Terrance Arceneaux (Houston), Matt Able, Zymicah Wilkins, Colt Langdon (Butler), Jerry Deng (Florida State), Paul Mbiya, Darrion Williams (Texas Tech), Jayme Kontuniemi

Key Losses: Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Marcus Hill, Dontrez Styles, Jayden Taylor, Ben Middlebrooks (Rothstein)