Spotlight on CJ and Beyond

Basketball Recruiting General NCS Basketball45

With NC State’s 2007 recruiting wrapped-up with a Top 20 class, why don’t we take just a few minutes to look ahead a little in basketball recruiting.

The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions last weekend helped kick-off the summer camp circuit. The local nature of the tourney always helps to bubble specific targets of the Wolfpack to the surface.

2008: As we discussed earlier in the week the commitments of Julius Mays and CJ Williams mean that State’s recruiting for 2008 is finished unless a scholarship were to open due to transfer or some other unforeseen event. (Congrats to CJ who just got invited to the NBPA’s Top 100 camp this summer!)

IF another scholarship opens for 2008, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Pack target a post player like 6 feet 10 inch, Ralph Sampson III (C/PF). State never prioritized Ty Walker or Caitlin Baicu as heavily as many expected; but the potential losses of Ben McCauley, Brandon Costner and JJ Hickson in two years would definitely create a need for some help in the frontcourt. Sampson is playing his way up the rankings and some expect him to move from a 3-star to a 4-star prospect and could end up ranked somewhere between #50 and #100 in the country.

2009: SFN isn’t a recruiting service, and we don’t like to go a long way out into the future because it seems to be somewhat of a waste of time. But, the BIG NAMES that Coach Lowe seems to be developing strong relationships with in the class of 2009 are just too intoxicating not to at least mention. Derrick Favors (PF), Jordan Hamilton (Wing) and Noel Johnson (SG) could all easily end up as 5-star recruits with Top 25 rankings. Pack Pride and The Wolfpacker both are indicating that Coach Lowe and the Pack are gaining solid traction with these studs.

2010: See our previous comments regarding our disinterest in looking too far into the future. However, in light of Coach Lowe’s ability to get both CJ Williams and Julius Mays to commit to early in their recruiting cycle, we would be taking a risk if we didn’t at least acknowledge the name CJ Leslie. Leslie is a Holly Springs, North Carolina prospect who is already six feet seven inches tall as a freshman in high school. Leslie attended a ton of NC State games this past season and has not been shy about publicly expressing his love for the Wolfpack.

The Winston-Salem Journal ran a feature on the recently injured CJ Williams on Wednesday (link to ‘Healing: Pack recruit is back on court again’). We thought would fit well here.

Williams is smooth and productive when healthy. He averaged 24.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocked shots last season in helping Britt finish 18-9, and he was named the Mid-Southeastern Conference player of the year.

N.C. State’s previous staff, led by Herb Sendek, started recruiting Williams. Last season was Lowe’s first as a college coach, but Williams quickly decided that Lowe’s pro experiences would make him a better player and that Lowe would build a strong program at N.C. State. Since making his decision, Williams said, his commitment to Lowe and N.C. State has grown stronger.

“Everyone saw it this year, but I saw it before,” he said. “Coach Lowe was able to build those guys up and get them ready for the games. They had a couple of letdowns, but that’s what I’m hoping I can come there for, so I can help us be prepared for every game. It also helps to be playing in the RBC (Center) and a nice, big gym.”

…“I’d love to go in there and start right away, but that’s not what I’m looking for,” Williams said. “I want to help us win. I want us to get up there and get in the NCAA Tournament and play for a national championship. That’s been my dream since I was so little. I just want to be able to help my team win.”

One thing about CJ that will need to be worked on is highlighted at the end of the article:

Friday’s game was in the Smith Center, an unusual place for Williams’ return. Williams grew up as a North Carolina fan and early in his high-school career thought about playing in the arena.

“All my friends at school, they get on me a little bit talking about how I can be a Carolina fan and go to N.C. State,” Williams said. “You can love a school anyway. I love Carolina, but N.C. State was just a better fit for me as a player and as a person. I feel strong and firm in my decision to go to N.C. State.”

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45 Responses to Spotlight on CJ and Beyond

  1. Lunatic Fringe 06/01/2007 at 12:50 PM #

    Speaking from the perspective of a convert, the conversion really takes place the first year in college.

    My family raised me as a UNC fan throughout my life, but once I chose Engineering in HS it became obvious that UNC was not in my future. All UNC related materials/clothes were given away during the summer after my first year.

    My uncle still wonders, “where he went wrong” and I respond that I became educated. 🙂

  2. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 1:15 PM #

    There’s a good chance Big Lew won’t play any more bball due to health reasons. That would open up a spot in ’08 or ’09.

    SFN: No it doesn’t. Big Lew’s departure basically allows Tracy Smith to have a spot on the roster next year. We are full for 2008 INCLUDING Big Lew’s departure. (You should have read our previous entry where we share this information that you are trying to share as if it is new). If Smith does not ultimately qualify, then we will have an extra scholarship in ’08.

  3. Cosmo96 06/01/2007 at 1:33 PM #

    My story is similar to Lunatic Fringe’s. I remember exactly when it happened. My freshman year was ’92-’93. We played Iowa in one of those “kickoff challenge” games that used to be played at the beginning of the season. I was watching in my dorm room in Sullivan, because I figured I should now that I was a student. I remember when we scored, I heard this weird noise, so I turned down the TV, and heard the entire west campus screaming as if they were in the stadium! It gave me chills. My love for the Pack was born at that very moment, my hatred for unx quickly evolved over the fall and winter, and there’s been no looking back.

    Just wait until CJ becomes a part of it. He’s still just a kid now, but he’ll become a man soon. I know he’s been to some of our games, and has been around campus, but just wait until he is really immersed in the NC State culture….he’ll see the light.

  4. RedTerror29 06/01/2007 at 1:38 PM #

    I grew up a State fan, but the fanatic part didn’t kick in ’til I got to campus for grad school.

  5. noah 06/01/2007 at 1:54 PM #

    Only bad part about that kickoff challenge against Iowa was the opening kickoff. We had a freshman named Mike Johnson that I had covered a little when he was in HS.

    We kicked off, he blew out his knee and he was never able to play again. His career last about four seconds.

    That same recruiting class, we had a DT named Tony Sales (I think that was his name) who injured his back weightlifting and was never able to play. Last time I checked, he was still working either at the WPC office or in the AD.

  6. StateFans 06/01/2007 at 1:56 PM #

    I remember a gorgeous option pitch that Terry Jordan executed with Anthony Barbour in that game. I *think* of a long TD. Picture perfect. How are we talking about a football game with Iowa 15 years ago in an entry about basketball recruiting?

  7. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 1:59 PM #

    “There’s a good chance Big Lew won’t play any more bball due to health reasons. That would open up a spot in ‘08 or ‘09.”

    meant ’09 or ’10. Big Lew opening up a spot IS new news since Smith has qualified.

    SFN: It is not “new” news when we blogged it yesterday and then you throw it out in your comments as if nobody had heard it. Tracy Smith is NOT qualified until the NCAA Clearinghouse says that he is. Big Lew’s departure has NO IMPACT on ’09 or ’10 (or ’08). WITH him on the roster we would be OVER our allotment of scholarships next year (if Smith) qualifies. You keep digging yourself deeper holes of inaccuracies. Just stop.

  8. zahadum 06/01/2007 at 1:59 PM #

    Ok, now I’m confused. If Lew is out and Smith in, that accounts for 12 scholarships. (1 sr., 2 jr, 4 soph, 5 fr.) Who gets the 13th?

  9. Cosmo96 06/01/2007 at 2:05 PM #

    I guess that’s my fault for bringing it up. I tried correlating it, however, with my last paragraph about CJ Williams. I think he’ll have his “lightbulb” moment–just as I did–sometime soon after he officially arrives on campus, and all this “I love Carolina” garbage will go right out the window.

    SFN: Just playing with you. 🙂

  10. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 2:09 PM #

    “Ok, now I’m confused. If Lew is out and Smith in, that accounts for 12 scholarships. (1 sr., 2 jr, 4 soph, 5 fr.) Who gets the 13th?”

    we’re bringing in 2 next season, with only 1 sr leaving. 12-1=10+2=13

  11. zahadum 06/01/2007 at 2:19 PM #

    Cedar,

    I agree with the numbers, just not the people. That is, lets say Smith is in AND Lew stays. That puts us at a full 13 for this year. Then, after 07-08, Grant leaves and lets say everybody else stays, giving us 1 to work with. Instead of saying that means no scholly for Smith’s soph. year, it seems to me that would instead mean none for either Mays or Williams.

  12. McPete 06/01/2007 at 2:25 PM #

    What a pointless argument when no one knows if JJ Hickson or Brandon Costner will be entering the NBA after next season. Or if fergeson transfers, or any other possibility we couldn’t possibly know about right now. i know it’s friday and all, but there has to be something interesting going on.

  13. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 2:27 PM #

    Lew’s health might not allow him to play ball anymore. I doubt the staff would offer Mayes & CJ & then pull the offers. They probably know weather Lew will play, it’s just not official.

  14. primacyone 06/01/2007 at 2:28 PM #

    There is a baseball game going on in SC. I heard it was being lived blogged somewhere!

  15. beowolf 06/01/2007 at 2:32 PM #

    12-1=10+2=13

  16. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 2:34 PM #

    “Big Lew’s departure has NO IMPACT on ‘09 or ‘10 ”

    huh? another open scholly has no impact? Having 2 spots open for the ’09 class instead of 1 is big. Might be more depending on possible early entries of course.

  17. Rick 06/01/2007 at 2:43 PM #

    “huh? another open scholly has no impact? Having 2 spots open for the ‘09 class instead of 1 is big. Might be more depending on possible early entries of course.”

    How can it be opening up a scholarship when we are already over booked?

    You need to stick to supporting your beloved catci coach.

  18. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 2:46 PM #

    “How can it be opening up a scholarship when we are already over booked? ”

    how are we overbooked for ’09 & ’10?

  19. beowolf 06/01/2007 at 2:48 PM #

    Third base.

  20. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 2:56 PM #

    ’09

    1. Degand
    2. Johnson
    3. Thomas
    4. Costner
    5. JJ
    6. Gonzalez
    7. Williams
    8. Smith
    9. Mays
    10. Trev
    11. Horner
    12
    13

  21. Rick 06/01/2007 at 3:15 PM #

    Who’s on first?

  22. lush 06/01/2007 at 3:22 PM #

    dance monkey dance

  23. CedarGroveWolf 06/01/2007 at 3:23 PM #

    no answer?

  24. packbackr04 06/01/2007 at 3:24 PM #

    i love monkeys

  25. xphoenix87 06/01/2007 at 3:25 PM #

    ok, here’s how it goes, and I’ll say it slow and with small words.

    Next year, if big Lew were to stay this year, we have filled up all 13 spots

    (1) Gavin Grant
    (2) Courtney Fells
    (3) Ben McCauley
    (4) Brandon Costner
    (5) Trevor Ferguson
    (6) Dennis Horner
    (7) Farnold Degand
    (8) Johnny Thomas
    (9) JJ Hickson
    (10) Tracy Smith
    (11) Marques Johnson
    (12) Javi Gonzalez
    +
    (13) Big Lew

    What that means is that the year after that, we would be overbooked unless someone transfers/leaves early, since Gavin is the only senior and we have 2 commits in Mays and Williams. The big picture is that unless someone leaves early after next year, Big Lew has to be gone or we don’t have enough scholarships for our incoming class. Since we’ve already offered to both Williams and Mays, we can assume that the coaching staff knows someone beside Gavin will be gone next year, and the logical conclusion is Lew and his health problems. Clear?

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