Rumors are circulating that NC State’s only experienced guard on the 2006-2007 roster, Engin Atsur, has experienced a foot injury and will not play in tonight’s Red/White game (not that many people can see the game).
Some fans on certain message boards have speculated that Atsur could be out for the entire month of November, but (at this point) we hear that the injury is not that significant and Atsur should be available to practice with the team some prior to the season opener on November 17th. SFN will keep you updated with anything that we learn.
If Atsur were to be hurt for the start of the season, NC State could enter the season with only five true healthy scholarship players comprised of one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen because Trevor Ferguson is ineligible until the end of the first semester and Farnold Degand still waiting a final answer from the NCAA.
If Atsur were to miss time during the season, then we would expect Gavin Grant to move to the back court with Courtney Fells. Since the post positions will be manned by Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley, then the hole ultimately existing at the swing forward position may be filled by true freshman, Dennis Horner. Looks like the young man went from #12 on the projected ‘depth chart’ to #5 in just seven short months.
Interestingly, the two freshmen that spurned their written commitments to NC State University – Dan Werner and Larry Davis – would have easily had the opportunity to potentially start in the ACC as true freshmen this year. Wow. I guess such a challenge and opportunity wasn’t in their DNA.
