ROI REPORT: Did NC State get their money’s worth on Quadir Copeland?

Over the next few days, we’ll be focusing in on the transfers that NC State brought in via NIL to see what the ‘Return on Investment’ was. To do this, we will look at their stats from last year and compare them to this year, while overlaying perceived expectations and role adjustments.

First up is Quadir Copeland.

Copeland’s story has been covered. 3-star kid who went to Syracuse, was misused, dropped down to McNeese State with Wade, allowing him to become a PG, then followed Wade here to NC State.

Expectations:
While we don’t know exactly what the staff had planned for Quadir Copeland, it certainly wasn’t the role of ACC’s best point guard. In fact, I don’t think Wade initially viewed Copeland as a high-usage starter when he came over. But with the portal in full swing well into Wade setting up his staff, NC State wasn’t able to land a proven elite-level PG. This opened the door for Quadir, and by the summer, he had taken over the role and was turning heads of opposing coaches and scouts who visited the NC State practices.

Year-Over-Year Stats

Minutes Per Game
Last year at McNeese: 22
This year at NC State: 28 🟢

Points Per Game
Last year at McNeese: 9.2
This year at NC State: 13.6 🟢

Assists Per Game
Last year at McNeese: 4.5
This year at NC State: 6.8 (#1 in ACC) 🟢

Rebounds Per Game
Last year at McNeese: 3.3
This year at NC State: 3.4 🟢

Steals Per Game
Last year at McNeese: 1.4
This year at NC State: 1.8 🟢

Field Goal %
Last year at McNeese: 49%
This year at NC State: 50% 🟢

3pt Field Goal % 
Last year at McNeese: 15%
This year at NC State: 41% 🟢

Usage 
Last year at McNeese: 26%
This year at NC State: 25%
(Not rated better or worse – subjective stat)

Outcome:

I don’t think the staff was bringing Copeland to NC State to be the team leader or to be the premier piece of this basketball team. I don’t believe they were investing in him, hoping he made some big statistical jump based on last year’s metrics. That big statistical jump had already been realized from year 2 to year 3. That’s when Wade first got a hold of him, gave him the reins at PG, and molded him into a pseudo team leader on a McNeese State team that was hoping to make waves.

The bet then was a good one. The bet for him to make another jump when he re-entered the ACC with NC State, not so great. But Copeland met the moment and here we are.

As you can see, Quadir’s numbers across the board are up. That’s pretty wild when you understand that last year’s numbers came against the Southland Conference and this year’s came against what is potentially the best conference in college basketball, the ACC.

The most impressive jumps came in his assists, where he added almost 2 per game and leads the ACC, and 3pt shooting, where he’s among the nation’s best in % increase year over year.

This is a combination of work ethic, inner drive, and opportunity. Copeland spent this off-season working on his shooting with an NBA-level shooting guru (alongside Paul McNeil), and while Copeland has lost his touch lately, overall, he’s seen about a 25% jump. That is the last frontier for Copeland, whose future in basketball will depend on that percentage. If he can keep defenses honest with a jumper, then he’s a big-minute contributor at the NBA level.

As for this year, Copeland was thrust into a role that maybe only he envisioned. That is the power of belief. If you’ve ever interviewed or talked with Q, you’d know that there is no lack of belief anywhere to be found. He bet on himself, and he won. As for Will Wade, the ROI with Copeland shouldn’t be judged just on this season. Part of him coming to State was the relationship they had forged at McNeese, and if you look at value add over those 2  years, it’s massive.

When it comes to NIL funds for Copeland, we don’t have that number, but I’ve been told it’s nowhere near equal to the production he gave NC State this year.

The season is not over, and Copeland’s story isn’t finished. But at this point, he’s proven his worth. If the NIL rumors are true (which I believe them to be), the ‘Return on Investment’ from Quadir Copeland is, without a doubt, the highest on this NC State basketball team.