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NC State Basketball

Keatts Press Conference before Opening Exhibition: Bulleted

Published

7 years ago

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  • First game in front of a crowd this Friday (exhibition)
  • You are going to see a lot of different combinations.Don’t get too concerned about line-ups because they are trying things out and Malik Abu is out and Sam Hunt may not play with a bruise (lower leg – not serious).
  • Team is getting better. Getting in better shape, guys are starting to believe in one another and they are playing better basketball. Hopefully the game Friday will be another step forward.
  • Guys are starting to step up as leaders. Lennard Freeman and Al Freeman have done a tremendous job.
  • Not sure how many games Malik will miss. They are taking it slow. He’s going back to the Dr. next week to learn a little more.
  • Malik has been on the bike and he’s getting treatment. Next week he might start shooting.
  • Keatts was happy with Lennard Freeman’s play in the secret scrimmage vs Campbell. He thinks he finished with 15pts and 8 boards. Yurtseven was a little slow as far as catching on. He was effective defensively, but not offensively.
  • You may see more of a 4 guard lineup with Torin Dorn as a stretch 4.
  • The team is learning how to compete. Practices are a real competitive. Guys are getting in better shape now.
  • Going to miss the extra guard with Braxton’s waiver being denied. They need Lavar Batts to play more minutes.
  • Markell needs to be more of an offensive option. Last year he was the 5th or 6th option. This year he’s 2nd or 3rd. He needs to show leadership from the point guard position.
  • Keatts looking for a lot of floor burns on Friday. Says this team is fun and they have been showing him tremendous effort.
  • The starting lineup has not been decided and it will be decided in the next couple of days.
  • Beverly decision is a tough thing. Keatts is disappointed.  He is not a transfer and he’s getting held up on a technicality. Keatts thinks he should just be able to pay back financial aid for the summer class he took.
  • Ohio State gave permission for Braxton to go to NC State. Thad Matta wrote a letter in support of Braxton, telling them that the staff made him come and enroll early because they were told they were going to return.
  • Dorn can score inside and out. He’s athletic and strong and can make outside shots. Looking at the NBA, you are starting to have more 4 guard lineups with a stretch 4, meaning a 6’5 or 6’7 guy as the 4.
  • Dorn gives you versatility because at the 4 he’ll still be able to switch a lot of screens. He can be a mismatch when a big guards  him. Looking around college basketball, nobody posts their 4 man anymore, so they really don’t have to worry about Dorn getting posted up.
  • Braxton is struggling because he trusted in a lot of adults. He’s done nothing wrong. He had a 3.6 at Hargrave and only could go to Ohio St. early was because he graduated. He’s got trust issues right now. He’s a bit depressed. He deserved to play.
  • A little piece of Keatts is holding hope out that somebody sees this kid deserves to play and reverses the decision.
  • From a University standpoint, there isn’t much more you can do. But Braxton and his family are looking at some different options,

 

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NC State Basketball

The Roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball Team is all but Set Heading into 2024-25

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1 day ago

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May 3, 2024

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NC State does have 1 scholarship available, and could still add a player out of the Transfer Portal. With that being said, the roster for the Men’s Basketball team is pretty much set for the 2024-25 season.

Non-graduates had to enter the Transfer Portal by April 30th, and Graduates had to enter by May 1st. Jayden Taylor and Michael O’Connell both made public announcements that they were returning, but the closure of entrance to the Portal means that Breon Pass, Ben Middlebrooks, Dennis Parker Jr. and MJ Rice are all set to return next season.

In a world where the Transfer Portal has all but become free agency in College Basketball, with some players switching schools on an annual basis, it’s encouraging that Kevin Keatts not only recruited a Top-10 Transfer Class, but also recruited a majority of the eligible players to stay. Three players that could transfer entered the Portal (I’m not counting Mohamed Diarra in these numbers, who opted to go pro), while 6 opted to continue running with the Wolfpack.

As a result, below is a breakdown of the roster for the NC State Men’s Basketball team heading into 2024-25, realizing the Wolfpack could still add one player (this team is deep).

1 year of Eligibility 

Guard Michael O’Connell
Guard Marcus Hill
Guard Breon Pass
Guard/Forward Jayden Taylor
Forward/Guard Dontrez Styles
Forward Ben Middlebrooks
Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

2 Years of Eligibility

Guard/Forward MJ Rice
Guard Mike James
Guard Jordan Snell (Walk-On)
Guard KJ Keatts (Walk-On)

3 Years of Eligibility 

Guard/Forward Dennis Parker Jr.

4 Years of Eligibility 

Guard Paul McNeil
Guard Trey Parker

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NC State Basketball

NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2024 Transfer Class Ranks in the Top-10 Nationally

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2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.

ON3

247Sports

NC State’s 2024 4-Man Transfer Class

Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)

Guard/Forward Dontez Styles (Georgetown)

Guard Mike James (Louisville)

Guard Marcus Hill (Bowling Green)

NC State still has a chance to move up in the rankings. East Carolina Power Forward Ezra Ausar just wrapped up an Official Visit to NC State, and things are looking good for the Wolfpack. ON3 ranks Ausar as the #67 overall player in the Portal, and the #15 Power Forward.

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NC State Basketball

WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

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2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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Guard Mike O’Connell Announces He Will Play His Final Year of Eligibility at NC State

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3 days ago

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May 1, 2024

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Guard Michael O’Connell announced today that he will be playing his final year of eligibility at NC State next season.

 

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A post shared by Michael O’Connell (@michaeloc_12)

Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.

This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.

O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.

He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.

NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).

Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.

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