We go position by position and look at NC State’s current portal commits to see what they have and what they still need. Plus a few small updates on Paul McNeil, Darius Adams, and James Scott.
This article provides more context for the article we wrote yesterday, which is below:
The portal season seems like it’s been going on forever, but really, we’ve only just begun.
NC State currently has 6 players on their roster, 5 incoming transfers and one returner. Let’s go position by position to see what we already have and what we think we’ll be needing.
Point Guard
NC State landed Preston Edmead from Hofstra out of the portal just a couple of weeks ago. This was a major get, and someone I know the staff really was targeting as soon as he entered.
Edmead doesn’t have great size; in fact, this is likely why he wasn’t one of the top players in the portal to begin with. He averaged 16 points per game and shot an elite 40% from 3-point range. He’s quick, he’s crafty, and he’s lethal off the dribble. In fact, statistically, he’s one of the best shooters off the dribble in the country. You may wonder how he’ll translate to the ACC, but he kind of answered those questions a bit with a 24-point torching of Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (6-13 from 3). I guess the main concern here is on defense. His Defensive Box +/- was -.3 last year, which means he’s a slightly below-average defender.
Watching the tape, he’s really not a bad defender at all. He’s smart, has good positioning, seems to communicate well, and give a ton of effort, but at the end of the day, he’s still just 6’1, and in today’s college basketball, there are nights when that’s going to be exploited.
How can they sure things up at PG?
I think Edmead is an elite piece, personally. I think there are a lot of coaches who see a 6’1 guy who is doing all this damage off the dribble and wonder if it will translate. Gainey, a 6’0 PG himself, knows the struggles, but also knows the advantages to being this size (and believe it or not, there are some). Edmead will be a havoc creator and will give fits to larger guards who can’t stay as low and change directions as fast as he can. But there will be nights when a good game plan will exploit him defensively.
Because of this, NC State needs to go out and get a longer PG to compete with Edmead or, at times, play alongside him. With Christian Hammond (we’ll get into him shortly) at the 2, you don’t really have a guy who can give you elite rim pressure. Whoever they bring in at PG alongside Edmead will need to provide this. I’d target a 6’4+ guard who is more of an athlete and less of a shooter (great if they’re both, but there aren’t many of those guys around in NC State’s price range.) Now, if you look through who is available, there aren’t many guys who fit this mold that have an NC State connection. One that you might want to watch for is Darius Adams, who played at Maryland last year (after decommitting from UConn). NC State was a finalist for his services during Keatts final days, and he even took an official visit here in September of 2024. If they can’t get that done, they’ll likely need to go under the radar to grab someone they feel has unrealized ceiling, along with those other attributes we mentioned.
Shooting Guard
Right now, NC State has Christian Hammond slotted in at this role. He’s another 16ppg guy who shot 40% from 3, and he played his first two seasons for Herb Sendek at Santa Clara. Now, remember, Gainey was coached by Herb here at NC State, so they have a good relationship. He’s likely very well-versed in what Hammond can bring to the table. I think Hammond slotting into a starting role is very likely, and I think he brings a guy who pairs really well with Edmead.
How can they sure things up at SG?
I think this one is a little bit nuanced. If State can land a guy like Adams as a backup PG, you could use either of those guys at the 2 when Hammond needs a break, you also MAY have Paul McNeil Jr (and we’ll get into that in a second too). But if NC State is going to pay McNeil the money we think they have set aside for him, then you better believe they think he can make another big jump as a scorer. What I’m referring to is his ability to score off the dribble. He showed a lot more of this in HS and actually some of it in his limited minutes under Keatts. I do think Paul has this in him, and I do think NC State will work tirelessly to get it out of him this coming season. If they succeed, then you could see Paul getting minutes at the 2.
Small Forward
Right now, NC State has a hold here. At the moment, you could slot 6’7 Boise State transfer RJ Keene here, and you’d probably be ok doing that, seeing as he’s an elite defender who is one of the lower usage players in the country, while racking up all the right deep metrics such as Defensive Box +/- and offensive efficiency. Despite the efficiency number, he’s not going to score. He averaged 2 points per game last season in 22 minutes per. He’s a very unique player, but he’s a winner, and he does all the little things to help your team. Casual fans won’t see the appeal, but if you know ball, you know guys like RJ Keene, and you’re always dying to get them on your team. He’ll 100% be racking up minutes for sure, but I’d assume the staff wants him filling in as a 6th/7th man on an ideal roster.
How can they sure things up at SF?
Reel in Paul McNeil Jr.
Power Forward
We’re going to have a lot more on 6’8 F Eemeli Yalaho in the near future, because I don’t think we spent nearly enough time digging into this gem of a portal addition. Yalaho is a 6’8 forward from Washington State who averaged 10 points and 6 boards while dishing out 1.7 assists per game and shooting an impressive 40% from 3.
Look, if this is your starting 4, then you’re going to be playing a floor spacing game. What I mean by that is you’re going to have shooters everywhere that are knocking down the 3 at a 40% clip. That’s insane. That’s a defense’s worst nightmare. In fact, I believe they see Yalaho as a budget version of Darrion Williams. That’s no slight to Yolaho, it’s just that Williams was one of the top-5 most sought-after transfers last year.
So I think NC State has a version of this roster where you’re going to see 3’s flying at record pace. At the same time, I do have some concerns about his defense. He finished with a -.8 Defensive Box +/-, which dipped to -3.2 in Top-50 games. That’s concerning, so it will be interesting to see how NC State handles that or, as we’re about to get into, how they fill that hole.
How can they sure things up at PF?
I think bringing in the other version of a 4 would be ideal. What is that other version? In my mind, it’s a 6’9 or 6’10 athlete who plays above the rim, grabs rebounds and has a positive DBPM.
If you’re wondering who that might be, my initial focus would be on James Scott. He’s the Ole Miss transfer who just entered the portal. He’s a Fayetteville native who NC State just about nabbed last year before the Rebels swooped in at the last minute. Had NC State had Scott, I think they would have been a heck of a lot more successful last season. Scott gives you a 6’11 guy who was a machine on defense. A 4.0 Defensive B0x +/-. That’s elite. Pair that with Kyle Evans, NC State’s new center (another 4.0 DPBM guy), and you have a version of this team you can throw out there that has some of the most elite rim protection in the country.
Center
NC State made a huge pickup when they got a commitment from Kyle Evans, a 6’11 center who led the nation in blocks per game, while scoring 12 ppg in the process. He’s the exact type of player they were missing last year and a rare find in the portal. A guy with high on-court IQ, quick off the floor, great anticipation, and can give you some offense. He had a 4.1 DBPM, so you know he’s going to give you big value on the defensive side.
How can they sure things up at C?
Evans is starting for sure. But I’d like to see NC State go get a big bruiser type. Like an Ebube who doesn’t foul so much. Landing Scott would be huge if that’s possible, and he can slot into the 5 if needed. If it’s not Scott than you’ll want another big, bouncy 4 who in a pinch, can give you minutes at the 5 (while still having that bruiser as a reserve.) Then you have Mikey Wilkins, who is a complete wild card. He’s a 6’9 big who seems to profile at the 4, but was likely a 5 before he changed his body last year. I’m not sure what his game looks like right now, and just not clear how advanced his skillset it. He was a 4-star kid and he’s got great hands, footwork, and touch. Maybe he’s fine as the backup 5, but is he physical enough? Lots of questions with Mikey, but I there’s something there for sure. The staff last year wanted to keep him, and Gainey wanted him this year. He’ll find a role, I just don’t know yet what it will look like.
