Gottfather strikes again!! State lands two top 50 recruits

Basketball Recruiting43

Did you dare blink in the time that Coach Mark Gottfried and NC State landed Cat Barber and Kyle Washington?

Last week we reported some exciting news on the basketball recruiting trail (click here) and earlier tonight we shared some thoughts and insight on some key prospects (click here)

Tonight, The Wolfpacker has reported that NC State has landed verbal commitments from TWO Top 50 players in the class of 2014. Twin brothers, Caleb and Cody Martin from Davie High School in Mocksville committed to Coach Gottfriend just days after returning from a visit to UNC-Chapel Hill. (Yes, you read that correctly.)

The Martin twins are 6’6 wing players who already had offers from Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, VCU, Tennessee and Miami. (Really feel sorry for Shaka Smart that these kids are smart enough to figure our why someone would want to be at NC State as opposed to VCU). They are generally ranked in the Top 10 of swing forwards and Top 50 overall prospects in the class of 2014; and, I am being conservative about the ‘Top 50’ overall ranking because the truth is that they are ranked in the top 35 of most rankings.

The Wolfpacker says, “The Martin twins bring a wide variety skills. Caleb has played more at SG, and Cody at SF. Both played for Team Loaded this offseason.”

The current scholarship configuration and scholarship spacing of NC State’s Basketball program is as follows:

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

Freshman Class
(8) Tyler Lewis (PG)
(9) Rodney Purvis (PG/SG)
(10) TJ Warren (F)

2013 Commits
(11) Anthony Barber (PG)
(12) Kyle Washington (4F/5C) – (Link to discussion as we have not yet posted on the blog)
(13) Open – center target
(1) Departure of Scott Wood – wing target
(2) Departure of Richard Howell
(3) Projected departure of CJ Leslie

2014 Commits
(4) Caleb Martin (wing)
(5) Cody Martin (wing)

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Basketball Recruiting

43 Responses to Gottfather strikes again!! State lands two top 50 recruits

  1. packalum44 10/11/2012 at 10:57 AM #

    ^ I respectfully disagree with all assertions that State fans “should not” take jabs at coaches who didn’t take our job. ESPECIALLY Shaka with the information that he strung us along shared by StateFans and the simple fact he’s at friggin’ VCU.

    I assume Shaka didn’t take it b/c he’s holding out for something better. Better how though? Better facilities? Better fans? Those weren’t the primary questions surrounding our program you knew that you were getting top notch in both categories……….Better recruiting advantages??? That was the primary question surrounding our program.

    I think both Shaka and Sean Miller are both feeling some regret. Now, Sean is at AZ so us fans understand that was not a slam dunk for us – it was a lateral move for him. Based on geography and his history here, I think he does have regrets because he would prefer to be on the east coast in a nice city he used to live. His biggest concerns were recruiting and the rebuilding job he didn’t want.

    Now, 2 things happened – 1) we did better last year than AZ and 2) we are recruiting as well as anyone in the country. So his primary concerns were dispelled faster than most imagined. That has to sting a little doesn’t it…..

    For Shaka though, a HUGE slap in the face. There is no reason he shouldn’t have taken the job b/c there are not many better in the country. Our Sweet 16 run and recruiting success is a validation of those sentiments that others were too ignorant to understand.

  2. ryebread 10/11/2012 at 10:59 AM #

    gcpack: “Enjoy it while you can, I have heard that when Lutz gets his next head gig that the other two assistants will likely go with Lutz. I suggest Debbie Yow start saving up to make them an offer they cant refuse.”

    I’ve heard these rumblings as well. I like Gott and all, but the man (and any head coach) is only as good as his staff. When he had a good staff at Alabama, they were pretty good. When some of those guys left, then he tailed off.

    This isn’t to run down Gott, but it is just the reality. Lose Lutz, Earley and Mox and we’re going to be hurting. I know we brought in Farmer to seemingly provide some insurance, but I’d really focus on trying to lock up Lutz and team for the long haul.

    I honestly think that Lutz by himself would be mid pack in the ACC coaching ranks. Pairing him with Gott is a great combo.

    packalum44: I doubt Sean Miller has any regrets. Arizona gave him a big raise and he’s now one of the highest paid coaches in college basketball. He’s put together some great classes on the recruiting trail as well. Honestly, he’s in position to own the Pac-12 over the next 5-10 years. I can’t see anything changing that unless Oregon gets serious about maximizing their limitless potential.

    The interesting question I think about Sean Miller is how much of an impact that Arch had on their success. Did Sean tail off this year because Arch was at Dayton? I don’t think that’s the case, but it will be interesting to see if that is a situation where they were both better together.

    Now Smart? I agree with you. On some level, he’s probably kicking himself if what our site admins say is true. He probably got caught up a little bit in the emotion of the run and the tie to his team. Honestly, I wish the man no ill will. I’m actually more impressed with him as a coach after what he did this past year than I was during his Final Four run.

  3. PoppaJohn 10/11/2012 at 11:35 AM #

    I could care less about the other coaches. Their loss, our gain. But we should stay a little humble, EVERY COACH WE WANTED TURNED US DOWN. Thanks to Yow, we lucked out with Gott. None of us knew if he would work out. And thanks to Gott, we have an incredible staff. that was his doing.
    We finally have all of the pieces in place for success. Agree with the previous posters, Yow needs to make sure the staff sticks around.

    To me, the biggest thing of all is winning a head to head recruiting battle with UNC for truly, quality players. (sounds like the twins really are good) Roy is an ‘A’ level recruiter. If we continue to play in that playground, we’ll stay competitive at the national level.

    It really is hard to adjust to all of this good fortune.

  4. Lunatic Fringe 10/11/2012 at 12:16 PM #

    double post

  5. motorhead 10/11/2012 at 12:24 PM #

    Gottfried posted a picture at the V Foundation on Twitter. I tweeted to him that it feels like he’s been a part of Wolpack Nation a lot longer than 18 months. He replied that he’s loved every minute of it.

  6. Lunatic Fringe 10/11/2012 at 12:25 PM #

    Ultimately, I think UNC can thank one of their own for Gott at NC State. I am sure Norwood Teaugue (UNC Alum, former AD for VCU) let it be known to Smart that NC State can never compete with UNC.

    Oops.

  7. newclass 10/11/2012 at 12:45 PM #

    SF unless you have real proof of that, and i mean real proff not hear say or info you got from somebody else (idk your sources, so eh) its still looks petty. and so what. we have gott. people need to stop acting like every time something happens to us its a direct insult to us. SMART TURNED DOWN OTHER SCHOOLS. Geez.

  8. packalum44 10/11/2012 at 12:50 PM #

    ^ Or Gary Williams!!! Thankssss!

  9. packalum44 10/11/2012 at 12:53 PM #

    Newclass it would be uncommon and indifferent for alumni of schools to not be insulted by a coach turning us down in the context of Shaka.

    #notSmart

  10. wolfmanmat 10/11/2012 at 1:06 PM #

    Here’s a video on the boys in Vegas. http://wareaglepride.com/hoops.asp

  11. MISTA WOLF 10/11/2012 at 1:11 PM #

    If any of you guys live in Forsyth county or any of the surrounding counties, I suggest you keep track of Davie county basketball and make an effort to go see the Martin boys play. They’re very sound and fundamental ball players. I also find it interesting that we are keeping tabs on a kid named Harry Giles. He is a freshman at Wesleyan in Greensboro I believe. I coach basketball at a middle school in Forsyth and had a chance to see him play. I believe with the skills he already possesses (as a 14 year old) that he has a chance to be a BETTER ball player than Anthony Davis was in his one year at Kentucky. I like the fact were on them young!!!

  12. Cabin Creek Wolf 10/11/2012 at 1:23 PM #

    Geez, some of you sound like you most likely have had or have a court order saying you cannot be within a certain distance of someone.

    As I said earlier, yeah, it sucked getting turned down and kicked by the national media. BUT, if it’s what we had to go thru to get to where we are now, then I’m glad it happened that way.

    To hell with any coach who turned us down. We got the guy we wanted and needed. GO WOLFPACK! GO GOTT AND CO.!

  13. StateFans 10/11/2012 at 2:10 PM #

    New class….you must be REALLY ‘new’ to not know that we don’t say things in a definitive tone unless we know them to be true.

    If we don’t for sure, we will say that ‘we heard’ from someone else.

    Last time — comment wasn’t made as much about Shaka specifically as much as it was made about the entire, shallow mindset that existed at the time across the media, coaches, etc

  14. rtpack24 10/11/2012 at 2:37 PM #

    Coach Lutz should have opportunities at some head coaching jobs. However, he is in his mid 50’s was fired from his last head job and is in a very competive industry. His money from Charlotte runs out this year so who knows. If he were to get a HC position we might lose Moxley but I doubt anyone else would go. Larry Farmer and Jeff Dunlap are two great coaches that could move right up to any vacated spots. One thing about Gott is he does plan for the future. Shaka ended up doing us a favor.

  15. Lunatic Fringe 10/11/2012 at 4:58 PM #

    I never understood worrying about a coach leaving for another school…

    I remember us worrying about Amato being too successful at NC State that he would leave for FSU…good times.

  16. wolfpack4ever 10/11/2012 at 6:51 PM #

    “If any of you guys live in Forsyth county or any of the surrounding counties, I suggest you keep track of Davie county basketball and make an effort to go see the Martin boys play. They’re very sound and fundamental ball players.”

    Mista Wolf,

    My son and I have already discussed that very thing. We are planning on going to watch them play when our own schedules are free & match up to their home schedule.

  17. MISTA WOLF 10/11/2012 at 7:57 PM #

    Let me know 4ever, maybe we can attend the same game and meet up.

  18. Trey Anastasio 10/11/2012 at 9:08 PM #

    Welcome to the Pack Martin twins!!!

    Now let’s go gott Anya or Woodson and put the cherry on top this spring with Randle!!!

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