Lorenzo Brown Commits!

Basketball Recruiting62

NC State’s Basketball program received an important commitment from a key member of the high school class of 2009 when Lorenzo Brown, a 6-4 175 pound a combo guard from Alpharetta (GA) Centennial ended months of speculation and provided the Wolfpack a verbal commitment on Sunday.

Brown is a consensus Top 25 player in the country and averaged 25 points and 9 rebounds per game in his junior season. Brown had various scholarship offers and was also considering Memphis, Texas, UConn and Florida.

Brown plays the point guard position but projects more as a combo guard in college because of his ability to score in a variety of ways. The case for Brown to play the wing at State is made stronger because of the commitment from earlier this month of his good friend, class of 2010’s Ryan Harrow – a pure point guard whose recruitment was recently featured here on SFN.

Brown’s abilities should complement fellow 2009 commit, Scott Wood‘s abilities nicely. Wood is an outside sharpshooting specialist whose height creates mismatches for defenses. Brown’s balance of athleticism, shooting and playmaking ability (either from the point or the shooting guard) will create important balance and valuable spacing on the perimeter.

Coach Sidney Lowe’s recruiting has undeniably hit a very nice gear as all of the Wolfpack’s 2009 and 2010 commitments project to be immediate contributors within the program. The Wolfpack’s future roster projects as follows and indicates a glaring need to land some bigger bodies to play in the post:

Projected 2008-2009 NC State Basketball Roster

Senior Class
(1) Courtney Fells (Wing)
(2) Ben McCauley (F/C)

Junior Class
(3) Brandon Costner (F)
(4) Trevor Ferguson (G)
(5) Dennis Horner (F)
(6) Fernold Degand (PG)
(7) Marques Johnson (PG/SG)

Sophomore Class
(8) Javi Gonzalez (PG)
(9) Tracy Smith (4F)

Freshman Class
(10) Johnny Thomas (Wing)
(11) Julius Mays (PG/SG)
(12) CJ Williams (Wing)

HS Sr Commits
(13) Scott Wood (SG)
(1) Lorenzo Brown (SG, PG, Wing) (Courtney Fells Scholarship)
(2) Open – [Post player/center along the lines of Derrick Favors and/or Richard Howell] (Ben McCauley’s Scholarship)
(3/4/5/6/7) Potential open from potential departure in junior class

HS Junior Commitments
(4) CJ Leslie (F)
(5) Ryan Harrow (PG)
(6) Open
(7) Open

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Basketball Recruiting

62 Responses to Lorenzo Brown Commits!

  1. Primewolf 07/27/2008 at 7:19 PM #

    I too, would go for a big over Wall at this point.

  2. sf59 07/27/2008 at 7:26 PM #

    2 ships
    remaining targets:

    Howell
    Favors
    Kelly
    Wall

  3. redfred2 07/27/2008 at 7:30 PM #

    I don’t know, we are talking a much coveted POINT GUARD in Wall, something we’ve sorely missed lately, and one of the supposed best at that position in the entire country, aren’t we? I don’t think I’m going make any remarks about it right now, that I might end up regretting later. If he is clean and willing, and if there is chance to get him, as a coach I don’t think you can afford to lighty turn your back on a talent like that, especially when it’s sitting literally in your own back yard.

  4. BJD95 07/27/2008 at 7:39 PM #

    My guess is that we are waiting on Favors, won’t get him, then offer Howell (who I would guess we are 50/50 for). Don’t think Kelly wants to play here.

    Kudos to the staff – this was absolutely an essential recruit to stay above water and give us something to look forward to next season. Hopefully, the 2009-10 team will have 3 guards in the rotation that can legitimately handle the ball (Degand, Mays, Brown) and create offensively. We would be very short on scorers without Brown.

    Also wouldn’t be surprised if Thomas gets med hardship and/or Costner hangs em up after this season. It may be that we offer Kelly and Howell now, knowing we can still add a lottery ticket like Favors or Wall if the opportunity presents itself.

  5. SuperStuff 07/27/2008 at 8:17 PM #

    I would like to see a local kid make our roster. I think we offered both Wall & Kelly early in their recruitment. I would hope that would make an impression with them.

  6. Trip 07/27/2008 at 8:21 PM #

    Thomas will probably get a hardship, just like our 7-3 polish guy, big Lew. I haven’t heard anything positive from anyone on campus about it, and it blows because he seems like a real good quality kid.

    Costner however, I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people this year. Hopefully the same way he surprised us 2 years ago.

    Great to hear Brown’s coming to town. We need people who can put the ball in the bucket.

  7. AfterglowXP 07/27/2008 at 8:31 PM #

    Ball in the bucket? Wait a sec, you mean…

  8. redfred2 07/27/2008 at 8:49 PM #

    I hate that about Thomas, I was hoping to hear that the earlier reports were wrong. In his interviews he was pumped and really wanted to play FOR THE WOLFPACK specifically. Maybe something will change for the better there, always remember what V told us.

    BJD, “Costner hangs them up after this season…” ??? Huh?

  9. choppack1 07/27/2008 at 8:54 PM #

    We need big men, we’ll have one left next year on our roster – Tracey Smith – assuming there are no issues.

    That’s what I’m hoping for next.

  10. PackMaestro-Original 07/27/2008 at 9:11 PM #

    I’m back. Been a while.

    Okay – from what I know – good pick up. Lorenzo will do well for the Pack, even if he is only here for one or two years.

    Number 2 – I don’t know this for sure, but I think we quit recruiting John Wall about a month ago. His handlers are creating too much baggage and the perception is whoever gets him is cheating to get him. If that is the case, I’m very happy Sid is not stepping over any lines to get the advantage.

    This football staff is incredible. I am hopeful for a bowl, but know that we are on the right track for greatness. The ACC Title drought will end before TOB’s retirement.

    Not much from me right now, but I hope to get back here soon. I haven’t always agreed with the tone of this board, but I figured I’d give them a chance.

    I’ll check emails periodically at [email protected]. Please don’t send recruiting questions – my sources are mostly internal from administrators.

    Adios.

  11. sf59 07/27/2008 at 9:18 PM #

    Redfred- BC is on track to graduate after this year, he could persue other b-ball options depnding upon the year he has. from the offers we have out it appears we will take 4-5

  12. redfred2 07/27/2008 at 9:25 PM #

    If that is really the case with Wall, no problem, move on to the next. It’s seems strange to me though that there is all this talk about dirty handlers and cheating, but the kid will go somewhere and play for at least one season, and the NCAA will not come up anything to report on the subject. It almost seems like since most people accept the fact these type of kids are only going to stick around for one season nowdays, that the NCAA doesn’t quite put the effort or dig as hard as it once did.

  13. Trip 07/27/2008 at 9:54 PM #

    “Ball in the bucket? Wait a sec, you mean…”

    Yeah, I think when you do that it puts point up or something… I dunno, I haven’t seen it in a while. 😛

  14. sf59 07/27/2008 at 10:28 PM #

    more like 2 tears in a bucket…

  15. PhilipRiversWannabe 07/27/2008 at 10:52 PM #

    THank you Jesus! We needed this. This kid will be a good player. I am glad we quit recruiting Wall. If we can land Kelly, Favors, or Howell, we will be set for a few years.
    I think we can surprise next year. The freshman need to be at least solid support players, like Gavin Grant and Andrew Brackman were early in their careers. A part time starter or a reserve who earned a good amount of playimg time. I am so glad JJ is gone. I never doubted his talent, but I think Sid told from the get go of his recruiting that he would be the focal point of the offense without ever having to earn it. He deserved playing time, but not to the detriment of the team. BC was recovering and he was out of shape due to his recovery time. Ben got screwed over and lost his confidence. Tracy Smith got virtually no playing time until the season was lost. JJ is now making big money and we have another former wolfpack player in the NBA. Otherwise, good riddance. he reminds me of kobe. nothing wrong with being more of scorer than a passer, but if u are double and triple teamed and one or more of your teammates is wide open, then u pass it.

  16. Rick 07/28/2008 at 6:43 AM #

    “As far as Kelly, I haven’t watched that much video on him, much less than I have on Wall for sure, but in the few clips that I have seen, Kelly was very impressive.”

    I have seen him play about 4 times. He is a baller. Composed and smooth. He will be a very good player before he graduates or leaves early.

    Great news on Brown.

  17. choppack1 07/28/2008 at 7:04 AM #

    Regarding video clips – I’ve stopped even viewing those things for the most part. Judging someone’s game from a video clip is like judging a movie from it’s trailer.

  18. AfterglowXP 07/28/2008 at 7:14 AM #

    …Or like thinking Hooters has good food. Well, not really.

  19. statered 07/28/2008 at 8:08 AM #

    I swear I am so sick of hearing Hickson bashing. The kid was the best player on our team last year and he was our problem? Not the players that actually sucked? It is the most twisted logic I have ever heard.

    If adding a talented player screws up Ben and Brandon maybe, just maybe, they weren’t that good to begin with. Good players do not go into the tank when another player joins the team. That is the definition of “good.”

  20. happypackdad 07/28/2008 at 8:16 AM #

    “My guess is that we are waiting on Favors, won’t get him, then offer Howell”

    We’d take both in a heartbeat, which I think is our best chance & our top 2. We’ve backed off Wall, but not given up. We’re hard on Kelly, but he’s a longshot due to academics at NCSU. I think we’ll take 4 in this class. Good chance Costner will bolt after this yr & Thomas might not ever play again.

  21. Daily Update 07/28/2008 at 8:50 AM #

    BJD95: I could have sworn that Howell, Kelly and Favors all have commitable offers right now along with John Wall.

    Brown being a consensus top 25 players is somewhat debateable. He didn’t have a great AAU summer season, but it sounded like some nagging injuries and summer school impacted his play. Still, he was obviously a “must get” for us.

    I am very anxious to see where Ryan Harrow makes his first appearance in the 2010 rankings. He has been putting up huge numbers(lots of points) in every game he has played.

  22. BJD95 07/28/2008 at 9:02 AM #

    I hope that all 3 have commitable offers right now, and maybe the Costner and/or Thomas situations are likely enough that we’d definitely sign 4 now, and maybe 5.

  23. Daily Update 07/28/2008 at 9:07 AM #

    Considering they are all potential top 25 players, you would think we would take any of the three that were willing to commit.

  24. redfred2 07/28/2008 at 11:44 AM #

    I asked earlier, but why is everyone now thinking that Costner will bolt next year, and to where, the NBA or what? This upcoming season should only give him time to redeem himself for his poor performances last season. If Costner does regain his earlier playing level I’d think that the NBA would sit back and wait to see if he can sustain some consistency for a longer period of time before they invest in him. But, it is the NBA that I’m talking about anyway, and when did common sense ever enter into their thinking.

  25. BJD95 07/28/2008 at 12:29 PM #

    Costner will graduate, and have heard rumblings that he’ll head to Europe. Coming back for another year probably doesn’t really do anything for his NBA stock.

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