It is a sad day for NC State as Wynnewood (Pa.) Friends’ Central’s Amile Jefferson pulled a fast one and this afternoon publicly announced his intentions to attend Duke University this afternoon. Rivals.com ranks Jefferson as the #7 power forward and #36 overall player in the class of 2012. He holds similar rankings between #20 and #40 on most lists.
Some well-placed ‘rumors’ had indicated that – after telling some members of the Wolfpack basketball team that he was joining them in Raleigh – Jefferson had told NC State’s coaches as recently as FRIDAY that he was announcing for NC State. Such a move would’ve validated the coaching staff’s ‘gamble’ to appease Jefferson and forego the addition of talented JUCO forward, Andrew Young (heading to Texas A&M) last month. Jefferson’s importance to the NC State grew in recent weeks after DeShawn Painter and Tyler Harris decided to transfer out of Raleigh and resulting in a much more thin front court than was previously projected.
It has been speculated by many close to the recruitment that Amile’s father had a huge hard on for Coach K; this blind love of Coach K could end up with a very sad twist of fate for Dad & Amile if some of the rumors about K’s potential impending retirement after next season end up coming true. Throughout the process, the mother wanted Amile to be close to home, but ultimately wanted what was best for Amile. She was quoted after the press conference as saying that she did not know that he was going to choose Duke; and someone posted on Twitter that “it was awkward when she had to put the State hat back in her purse.”
NC State’s current and projected roster is included below. Jefferson’s impact was more important to NC State AFTER the 2012-2013 season. The use of his scholarship in the current freshman class along with having a talented, experienced sophomore ready to start in 2013-2014 would have been a very important stabilizing factor in the program. Coach Gottfried’s Wolfpack now only has nine scholarship players available for the 2012-2013 season and is facing a challenging scholarship disbursement with a large number of six or seven available scholarships for the next recruiting class.
Senior Class
(1) Scott Wood (Wing)
(2) Richard Howell (PF)
Junior Class
(3) CJ Leslie (PF)
(4) Lorenzo Brown (PG/SG)
(5) Jordan Vandenberg (C) (Redshirt)
Sophomore Class
(6) Thomas de Thaey (PF)
(7) Ralston Turner (Wing) – transfer from LSU sits out 2012-2103
2012 Commits
(8) Tyler Lewis (PG)
(9) Rodney Purvis (PG/SG)
(10) TJ Warren (F)
2013 Commits
(11) Open
(12) Open – center target
(13) Open – wing target
(1) Departure of Scott Wood
(2) Departure of Richard Howell
(3) Projected departure of CJ Leslie
(4) Potential departure of Lorenzo Brown
Although not a post player, it may be worth the time to pay some attention to Mississippi State transfer, Rodney Hood (Link)
Hood, who averaged 10.3 points per game while starting 29 of Mississippi State’s 33 games this past season, has decided to leave the Mississippi State program according to new head men’s basketball coach Rick Ray.
Hood was a 5-star prospect in high school and one of the top rated swing men in the country….and, like recent transfer addition, Ralston Turner, Hood was recruited by Coach Gottfried at Alabama. If NC State could find a way to land Hood, the Wolfpack would (1) elevate our athleticism and talent; (2) balance our scholarship spacing; and (3) have enough talent on the roster to be in a position in the front court to slot TJ Warren into the important high post role in the Wolfpack’s offense (if that was the right fit).
While you are here at SFN, we would ask that you spend some time reading some of our recent original coverage of the UNC academic fraud scandal as well as the Wolfpack’s basketball addition yesterday, Ralston Turner. Additionally, our message forums (linked here) always have dozens of great conversations for you.
