Here is our VIDEO of NC State Forward Lennard Freeman talking with the media yesterday at Media Day. Quotes below.
“I’m back now. I’m not 100% back, but I’m out there playing pick-up and stuff. I’m almost 100%.”
On projected return…
“I’m on the court now. In two or three more weeks I should be right back to normal where I left off at. Beginning of November I should be at 100%. No pain or anything.”
On how the injury happened…
“It started mid-February. I felt it in my shin, but I didn’t know exactly what it was. I’m tough so I played through it. I thought it would just be a temporary thing, but a week went past and it was still there. Then I started to feel it in practice. Every time I jumped it hurt. I talked to Ryan and we got an X-ray. With the first X-ray the doctors didn’t get the right picture, and they didn’t see the crack. He didn’t think anything was wrong, so I just kept on going and it was hurting more. Then I got an X-ray on the right spot, and they saw the crack. Then they said lets just try to finish strong, and ice it and put a pad on it towards the end of the year when we got to tournament time. We knew we only had a couple more games left. Once the season was over, I immediately sat down and got surgery.”
On the recovery process…
“It was crazy. For about a month BeeJay (Anya) had to help me get in and out of bed. I couldn’t drive. I couldn’t do anything. Everything I did I had to have a person there to help me. It was like that for a month, and then I got off of my crutches, and then the boot.”
On this being his first major injury…
“I’ve rolled a couple of ankles, but this is the first time I’ve had to have surgery.”
On dealing with this mentally…
“I just did what I could. I knew I couldn’t go out there and run, so I would just go out there and shot free throws. Everyday I would go in there and shoot free throws or ride the bike. Right after surgery it was hard because I couldn’t do anything. I had to stay in bed and watch my teammates practice. That was hard, but now that I’m back on the court you don’t take anything for granted. You remember for the last three or four months not being able to touch a football, so I’m just glad to be back.”
On shooting free throws…
“Coach Lutz was talking about it in practice. I have been shooting them 82% in practice on the free throws we charted. That’s all I’ve been doing. That’s one thing I was allowed to do, and it was something I was going to work on anyway in the summer, and then with me being hurt, and that being the only thing I could do, I’m glad, because I hope to see a big ‘ol improvement in my free throws.”
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)
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.
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.
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.
