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NC State Offers 2028 In-State Forward Tjay Brunson

Matthew Bradham

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NC State continues to prioritize in-state talent under new head coach Justin Gainey.

The Wolfpack extended a scholarship offer to 2028 small forward Tjay Brunson yesterday, a 6-foot-7 prospect from Cleveland High School in Clayton, North Carolina.

With Clayton located just outside of Raleigh, Brunson represents exactly the type of local talent Gainey has repeatedly emphasized he wants to keep home.

One of North Carolina’s Top Rising Prospects

Brunson is beginning to emerge as one of the top players in the 2028 recruiting class.

Rivals currently rates him as a 4-star prospect and ranks him:

  • No. 53 overall player nationally
  • No. 13 small forward nationally
  • No. 4 overall player in North Carolina

At this stage of the recruiting cycle, both ESPN and 247Sports have yet to assign Brunson a ranking, but Rivals clearly believes he is one of the top prospects in the country for his class.

Growing Offer List

NC State is far from the first program to recognize Brunson’s potential.

His offer sheet already includes:

Wake Forest
Rutgers
Mississippi State
East Carolina
Washington State
UNC Greensboro
Coastal Carolina

As his recruitment continues to gain momentum, expect that list to grow considerably.

Big-Time Production

Brunson stuffed the stat sheet this past season at Cleveland High School.

2025-26 Statistics

  • 21.3 points per game
  • 8.4 rebounds per game
  • 2.2 assists per game
  • 1.6 steals per game

The scoring and rebounding numbers immediately stand out, particularly for a wing player.

At 6-foot-7, Brunson possesses the size college programs covet while also demonstrating the ability to impact games in multiple areas.

A Recruiting Philosophy In Action

Since taking over the program, Justin Gainey has repeatedly emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with North Carolina’s top high school programs and prospects.

Keeping elite local talent home has been a central theme of his recruiting approach.

Offering Brunson early is a perfect example of that philosophy in action.

Rather than waiting for the national recruiting services to fully catch up, the Wolfpack is making sure one of the state’s top young prospects knows he’s a priority.

Why This Recruitment Matters

The 2028 class is still in its early stages, but establishing relationships now often pays dividends later.

Brunson’s combination of size, production, and athletic upside gives him the profile of a prospect whose recruitment could explode over the next couple of years.

By extending an early offer, NC State has positioned itself to be a major player throughout that process.

Highlights

Check out some of Brunson’s highlights below. The local talent has some serious bounce.

 

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