Breaking down NC State’s Current Roster: Point Guard

We took a look at the roster so far and went position by position on our Podcast, looking at what NC State has and what they need. Here is our segment on PG:

Starting with the point guard position, NC State brought in Preston Edmead from Hofstra, and I think this is a huge get. They had targeted him even before he entered the portal, so this wasn’t just a fallback signing. They really wanted him.

This addition makes a lot of sense when you look at what Justin Ganey has done at Tennessee. The Volunteers have had success with smaller, quick guards who create chaos. Guys like Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Zakai Ziegler slice through the lane, hit floaters and jumpers, distribute the ball, and constantly force defenses to react. That’s the core of good offense: making the defense move and create open shots.

NC State has traditionally relied on bigger guards, which has its advantages but also limitations. Edmead fits that smaller, shifty mold perfectly. He’s low to the ground, extremely quick, and an elite shooter at 39% from three. He’s also one of the best off-the-dribble shooters nationally. That shooting ability is going to be huge for their offense.

I expect they’ll use him heavily in pick-and-roll actions. It becomes a true pick-your-poison situation because he can shoot, drive, pass, or kick out. Last year, teams dropped way back on Quadir Copeland in the pick-and-roll because they dared him to shoot. That won’t work against Edmead. Defenses will have to stay up on him, which opens up driving lanes and makes the entire offense flow better.

That said, while I believe Edmead is the clear day-one starter, NC State still needs another dimension at point guard or from a combo guard. They could use someone with more size, around 6’4″ or 6’5″, along with length, athleticism, and especially rim pressure. Christian Hammond is a great player at the two-guard spot, but he didn’t handle the ball a ton at Santa Clara. Asking him to run point full-time in the ACC might be tough and could limit his overall value.

That’s why a guy like Darius Adams from Maryland is someone to watch. He was just on a visit here, and he’s a high-upside prospect who was heavily recruited by Dan Hurley and Tom Izzo. His efficiency numbers weren’t great last season and even in high school, but he put up solid counting stats in a tough situation at Maryland with injuries and a weak supporting cast. If he lands at NC State, he could be a sixth man or even compete for a starting role. He’s crafty, changes pace well, stops and starts, and creates tough shots. He plays very similarly to Quadir Copeland, but hopefully with better decision-making and less usage.

I’ve seen some people compare him to Matt Able, but I don’t really see it. They’re very different players. Able is more of a straight-line driver and doesn’t have the wiggle or balance to be a true point guard in my opinion. Adams feels much more like a refined version of the kind of guard Copeland was.

Overall, with Preston Edmead as the lead guard and potentially adding someone like Darius Adams, NC State should have a much more balanced and versatile PG spot next season.