Mark Gottfried and his coaching staff have worked tirelessly this off-season to bring as much talent to Raleigh as possible, and the results are remarkable. State is one of only two programs that have signed more than one top 25 recruit. (Arizona has signed three.) The addition of TJ Warren bolsters an impressive recruiting class, with highly touted guards Rodney Purvis (top 25) and Tyler Lewis (top 50) having already committed.
According to Scout.com, the 6’7 forward is a “big-time scorer” and “can really shoot it from deep.” Warren chose NC State over Georgetown, UNC and Florida.
NC State has let a ton of talent get out of the state in recent years, but the current coaching staff is making North Carolina a priority. So far, it is paying off in a big way, as Purvis, Lewis and Warren are all from this state.
Despite not having coached a game at NC State- and having been out of coaching for two years- Coach Gottfried has assembled a top 5 recruiting class for 2012. If a couple more dominoes fall, State could have one of the top two classes in the nation.
During State’s coaching search, most college basketball experts claimed the State job is one of the toughest, and none of them seemed to be able to grasp the concept that State has almost always recruited well. While State isn’t known for top 5 classes, top 20 classes are the norm. Coach Gottfried and staff should be commended for their efforts on the recruiting trail, where so far they have exceeded expectations.
..more to come…
