NC State Basketball
Missouri Transfer Mohamed Diarra is On an Official Visit to NC State Today
According to reports, NC State is adding UMASS’ Brett Nelson as an Assistant Coach.
Sources: Brett Nelson is leaving UMass to join Kevin Keatts’ staff at NC State as an assistant.
Matt Figger — who worked for Frank Martin at both South Carolina and Kansas State — will replace Nelson in Amherst.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 15, 2024
Nelson was only at UMASS for 1 season under Frank Martin. Prior to that, Nelson was the Head Coach at Holy Cross for 4 seasons, posting a 27-84 record.
Prior to taking the Head Coaching mantle at Holy Cross, Nelson was at Marquette for 5 seasons, spending the first 3 as an Assistant Coach, and the final two as an Associate Head Coach. Prior to Marquette, Nelson also served as an Assistant Coach at Ball St., Drake, Arkansas and Marshall.
Before coaching basketball, Nelson played for the University of Florida from 1999-2003. He was All-SEC twice, and earned Third Team All-American honors. When he left Gainesville, he was the Gators’ all-time leader in three pointers made, and ranked 2nd in steals.
As a Senior in High School, Nelson was a McDonald’s All-American.
Power Forward Ernest Ross announced this morning that he is returning to NC State for his final year of eligibility.
View this post on Instagram
Last Friday, Ross committed to UTSA after entering the Transfer Portal on April 17th, but it looks like he had a change of heart over the past couple of days.
NC State has been in desperate need to add a Big out of the Portal. They have hosted ECU’s Ezra Ausar and Georgia’s Frank Anselem-Ibe, but neither of them have found a home yet. With the addition of Ross, NC State has added depth in the Frontcourt, and unless something changes, their roster is full with 13 scholarship players.
Ross played in 14 games this past season, averaging 3.4 minutes per contest. After playing in 34 games last season, averaging 11.4 minutes per contest, Ross saw his participation dip to a career low this season, but that didn’t for a second break his infectious personality. On the sideline, you could count on Ross every single game to be the heart and soul of the Wolfpack on the bench. To watch a player who played as little as he did, care as much as he did, makes me super proud that this young man represented NC State so well.
Ross was a consensus 4-star player in NC State’s 2021 recruiting class, with 247Sports ranking him as the #60 overall player nationally. ESPN ranked him as the #5 overall player in the state of Florida.
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I have read different reports about Diarra. Does he have 2 or 3 years of eligibility left with State?
Good question, I have read the same.
He did two years of JUCO and one at UM, so – with the COVID year – two years of eligibility seems most likely, despite what it says in the article above.
Although I do remember DJ Funderburk electing not to use eligibility at the CC he played at, so he retained it. I guess CC is cheap, so he just paid to avoid losing the year. But I haven’t heard or read anything like that about this guy.
My money is on two.
One of his JUCO years did not count due to COVID. He has two years of eligibility left.
Looks like we have Diarra.
Full house again.
Lower rating than Dowuoana. I believe they left out the “he”. Why choose him? Scored 9 points and 6 rebounds in the last six games. Another KK charity case?
Leagues better than Ebe. Everytime he got minutesnhe produced just was buried on mizzou bench. No idea why. But he can rebound has great hands and can shoot. We knew DM was leaving this is an acceptable replacement imo. And sets up our front court with middlebrooks in the future
High School ratings don’t matter much after three years. KK is pretty good at finding players to contribute.
In what specific ways do you think Ebe is better?
I don’t believe he is better. I think he will contribute just like Ebe. Not good enough. Hope I am wrong about him if he commits.
He’s not the same type of player as Ebe, but he is a role player and all teams need role players. He did commit already.
That was fast!
“Diarra entered the Transfer Portal on March 28th.”
Interesting comment to add, is that significant? The portal window ‘opened’ March 13.
You never know how JUCO numbers will translate to D1. But with 3 years eligibility, he has time to develop. On paper, you’d think he’d be 3rd off the bench at center behind Middlebrooks because neither Middlebrooks nor Diarra appears to be a PF.
That pushes Ross and Miranda to the PF, for sure. Which means we could play either small or big.
Hate Mahorcic transferred. Not sure what’s behind that other than speculation about his rehabilitation of the knee.
Best for both parties. He won’t be ready to play to maybe February. He wanted to be here but he would see the court. He didn’t want that. He will have to sit a year after he transfers that will give him ample time to heal and then use his last season.