Tracy Smith committed to play basketball at NC State on Monday afternoon. Smith, a 6’8 225 pound power forward with enough versatility to contribute on the wing is easily considered a consensus Top 50 high school player and is listerd “4-star” recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com.
The Charlotte Observer’s Ken Tysiac’s affinity for Herb Sendek manifested itself into rude comments and criticism of NC State fans in his coverage over the past few years. This brief article about the Smith commitment ran today. It has some quick comments from Bob Gibbons.
When N.C. State hired Sidney Lowe after he spent his entire coaching career in the NBA, the biggest question was whether he could recruit.
It hasn’t taken Lowe long to answer.
The addition of Smith to the existing 2007 commitments of JJ Hickson and Johnny Thomas will catapult Sidney Lowe’s first recruiting class into (at least) a national Top 20 class. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons called Smith a “Top 20 talent” said the addition of Smith gives State the No. 2 class in the ACC behind Duke.
The Wolfpack has an additional scholarship available for the 2007 class that we believe should be reserved for the 2008 class unless a MAJOR talent emerges on the recruiting scene. As we stated in our most recent full-blown analysis:
Based on (1) Farnold Degand’s presence/ability to handle the ball next year after Engin Atsur leaves, (2) the in-roads that Coach Lowe is making with prospects in the class of 2008 and (3) the 2008 commitment from Julius Mays.. then close the book on the class (unless we land a Top 30 “Mystery Recruit�).
SFN will have a full recruiting and projected roster breakdown in the coming days that we think that you will enjoy. In the meantime, you can click on this link to see all of our recent “Basketball Recruiting Entries” and surf until your heat’s content.
