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NC State’s Terquavion Smith Will Forgo His Remaining College Eligibility & Declare for NBA Draft

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1 year ago

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Well, it’s official. NC State Sophomore Terquavion Smith will forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and officially declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.

Here’s what Smith had to say to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony regarding his decision.

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

“I showed a lot of different things this year,” Smith said. “Teams wanted to see me be more of a point guard, making the right play, making the right decisions. They wanted to see me improve my finishing, and I increased that. I showed I can be a leader.”

“I improved my grades. I’m a year closer to getting my degree now. You only get one chance to be a college student and get that college vibe. There was no rush for me. I’m ready to contribute to an NBA team now.”

“I’m feeling good about everything now,” Smith said. “I came back to do what I needed to do. I feel like I did everything the right way. I know what’s coming now in the pre-draft process because I’ve been there already and know what to expect. I’ll be a lot more confident in myself now. It’s going to be a straight grind.” (ESPN)

Smith earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors this year, averaging 17.9 points and 4.1 assists per game.

He currently ranks 30th on ESPN’s Top-100 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings. In most NBA Mock Drafts, Smith is projected as a late first round pick.

Smith’s career scoring average of 17.1 ranks 8th in school history. He made 187 three point shots in two seasons, ranking 8th all-time in NC State history. His 96 made three-pointers last year are the most ever by a Freshman in school history, and his 91 made three-pointers made this year are the most ever by a Sophomore.

If Smith goes on to be taken in the 1st round of the 2023 NBA Draft, it will be the first person to do so from NC State since Dennis Smith Jr. was taken 9th overall in 2017. If Smith is taken in the first round, the would become the 17th player in school history to do so.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Rev
Rev
1 year ago

Not exactly pertinent for this thread, but I am just astounded that the Keatts haters still dominate most of the forums. Some of them are just anger-filled people who take out their life disappointments on our sports teams, especially Keatts. Many are suffering from rectoptic syndrome (rectal interference with the optic nerve causes a shitty outlook).

0
Rev
Rev
1 year ago

Glad the announcement wasn’t delayed any further. It has to help with the transfer situation, if only to confirm that there are at least 60 minutes per game available in our backcourt.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 year ago

KK needs to get the Ryan kid from Notre Dame on this team. Too good to pass on.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 year ago

The kids from Temple or Arizona State would be a good choice. Both are from NC.

0
wolfpack74
wolfpack74
1 year ago

Thank God, the ball hog is gone. Anhyone that has to shoot as many times as he does should average 30 points a game not 17.

-2
Papajohn
Papajohn
1 year ago

WHAT???? OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As many times as he came crashing down on the floor and got back up and kept on playing, we were really lucky he didn’t leave after year one.
Certainly Keatts’ best ‘find’ ever, so far.
Thanks T!

1
Dof87
Dof87
1 year ago

Another day goes by with no LJ or Pass in the portal. Also, no Miranda in the portal or announcing for the draft. I like no news like that.

I am more concerned with ensuring we have a dominant athletic big man than I am with guard acquisitions. Then a scoring compliment to Ross, who could be a breakout player next year.

1
Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year ago
Reply to  Dof87

I would lean more toward point guard, but I guess a lot of that depends on what Dusan does (or can do?). Maybe that’s to your point, though. Hell, I’m greedy, give me both a point guard and a big man, with a side of anything else I want.

But, back to point guards, Taran Armstrong is interesting. 6’5″ and for 2022-23, he averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 5.0 APG. Seems pretty solid to me but I wonder if we’re looking at him.

Last edited 1 year ago by Afterglow
1
Dof87
Dof87
1 year ago
Reply to  Afterglow

I’m just more confident KK will find the guard(s) we need. Not saying they are less important.

0
Rev
Rev
1 year ago
Reply to  Afterglow

I too wonder why Armstrong is not getting more attention.

0
Dof87
Dof87
1 year ago

I’m pulling for him to find great success. Great person on top of a memorable player.

1
Afterglow
Afterglow
1 year ago

It’s the right thing to do, after all, I’d hate to see him stay and get injured.

2

NC State Basketball

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

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3 hours 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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NC State Basketball

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

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16 hours 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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NC State Basketball

ECU Transfer Forward Ezra Ausar to NC State is Trending Up

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.

Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.

Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.

Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.

Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)

At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.

Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.

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NC State Basketball

NC State Signee Zamareya Jones Showed Out in the McDonald’s & Jordan All-American Games

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1 day ago

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May 1, 2024

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NC State 2024 signee Zamareya Jones has played in the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic over the past month.

In the McDonald’s game on April 2nd, Jones had 13 points, helping her East squad defeat the West.

 

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A post shared by SportsCenter NEXT (@sportscenternext)

In the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21st, Jones had 15 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. She also hit the game winner for Team Flight.

Jones is a 5-star prospect in the Wolfpack’s 2024 recruiting class, ranked 21st overall nationally by ESPN.

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