DeCock: Now it gets interesting for Pack, Tar Heels

13-14 Basketball Basketball Recruiting NCS Basketball64

tjwarren2

Some interesting stuff in this piece from the N&O by Luke DeCock.  Please folks, read between the lines before going off the rails in the comments section.

DeCock: Now it gets interesting for Pack, Tar Heels (N&O)

For N.C. State and North Carolina, now it gets really interesting. It was no surprise that Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie declared for the NBA draft, and even Rodney Purvis’ decision to transfer isn’t entirely shocking based on the way his playing time declined and the way N.C. State’s season went.

[snip]

There’s nothing new about this. N.C. State went through it last spring with Brown and Leslie, Duke with Austin Rivers and Mason Plumlee, North Carolina with Harrison Barnes and John Henson and Kendall Marshall, with only Marshall’s departure even a mild surprise.

What is new are the stakes: Warren is absolutely essential to the Wolfpack’s success next season, and Lewis isn’t far behind. The Tar Heels could stomach losing McAdoo, but losing Bullock or Hairston would put them in a tough spot, and losing both would be disastrous.

Warren’s father has said his son will likely turn pro if he’s projected to be a first-round draft pick, so the NBA’s advisory committee will have a lot to say about his future. With four starters already gone, Warren would be the focal point of the Wolfpack offense next year and a potential superstar in the ACC with his ability to play inside or outside.

Lewis’ name has come up in transfer speculation, as Purvis’ did before. With only one guard recruit currently signed – Anthony Barber – and transfer Ralston Turner the Wolfpack’s only other backcourt option at the moment, the Wolfpack really needs Lewis to stay.

 

Not mentioned in this piece for obvious reasons is the potential addition of JuCo newcomer Desmond Lee (if he chooses us, fingers crossed) and the potential re-addition of Josh Davis (again if he chooses us), as well as any other under the radar developments which might be going on.

Dez Lee visited Raleigh this past weekend and was scheduled to visit Creighton this week.  Josh Davis, who would be immediately eligible for any program to which he transfers, is apparently weighing various options including his chances at a jump to the NBA

With depth now being our biggest potential enemy, either or both of those guys would be a big help IMHO.

–

About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

13-14 Basketball Basketball Recruiting NCS Basketball

64 Responses to DeCock: Now it gets interesting for Pack, Tar Heels

  1. Alpha Wolf 04/03/2013 at 6:31 AM #

    Obviously, we’re involved with a couple of other players, namely the Juco guard and Davis from Tulane. There may also be some other new guys coming in.

    Will that team have the same firepower that this one sported? Probably not…but will it lack the melodrama that apparently rivaled the best of the Spanish-language soaps on Univision? If so, it may accomplish more in the long run.

  2. Wufpacker 04/03/2013 at 7:06 AM #

    Well said Alpha and I agree. Firepower isn’t much good if it’s not well-aimed.

  3. haze 04/03/2013 at 7:40 AM #

    Friendly fire kills too…

    In net, the article and realities to date, while concerning, were not unexpected. Purvis defies logic to some degree but the backstory holds together.

    With UCLA’s gig out of the way and coming good news being advertised by some insiders, the storm may be over. Absent really significant back stories, there is every reason to believe that…
    — Warren returns to be 1st option on O
    — Lewis returns for big PT at PG
    — We pick up ~2 more guys (Lee, Davis, Djitte, etc.)

    If it plays out this way, we’ll have an interesting year of revelation and development in 2013-2014. Doubt we’ll be as good overall but the op is there for Gott to really put a stamp with HIS players. Interesting to say the least.

  4. Pack Leader 04/03/2013 at 8:26 AM #

    WE NEED BODIES. Period.

    I still think we have the opportunity to feild a very competitive squad, IF a few pieces fall into place. Picking up Lee & Davis would totally change the landscape of our season. That would give two capable seniors significant playing time and take the load off of an untested freshman.

    Offtopic, but did anyone notice both of the Martin Brothers (commited in 2014) made the NC All-State team and they are transfering to Oak Hill next year… They could get some REAL exposure, like Lewis did, and sneak their way on the McDonalds team. They have me VERY excited about the future.

  5. TheCOWDOG 04/03/2013 at 8:38 AM #

    Frame your takes, Wuf, Alpha, you too, Haze.
    Stamp ’em in bold font, because when Lewis bolts for Davidson this week,and Warren comes out, this site goes apoplectic, and all signs of intelligence is lost.

    Folks here have never experienced recruiting over, and harbour little concept of the perils that go along with it in a fledgling state.

    When the dust settles, it will resemble a freshly furrowed field. What grows from it will be dependent on the farmer and the weather.

    This is very likely my last venture in here for all things basketball for awhile, ’cause the embarrassment that some fans bring me just screws with my homeostasis.

  6. Majellin 04/03/2013 at 8:50 AM #

    What about Josheph Uchebo down at Chipola Junior college? Does anyone know if he might come back to Raleigh?

  7. maverick_ncsu 04/03/2013 at 9:36 AM #

    Why do so many people think Lewis will transfer? Have there been signs of him being unhappy because if not, he will get tons of PT next year. I really would like to know where this is coming from as I have not heard it except “it’s a possibility” kind of comments on the radio.

  8. packof81 04/03/2013 at 10:20 AM #

    The prospect of having to replace pretty much the whole team is not very appealing. On the other hand, all the talk about chemistry problems make me wonder if a fresh start is just what’s needed.

  9. vtpackfan 04/03/2013 at 10:43 AM #

    Tulane actually has 4 transfers, one being Davis. Another player that would be eligible next year is Ben Cherry, 6’2 SG who grew up in Charlotte.

    He could provide some Senior leadership to go along with a great outside shot. He might be better equipped for a Mid Major to get more PT, but it sure would be crucial to address Guard depth IF TL wants to finish his career elsewhere. Cherrys HC at Myers Park was Rick Lewis, so that would fit great in the soap opera-Right! 🙂

    I desperetly want TL back. He has stated over, and over that he wants to test his mettle and prove himself at the highest level. He could really make a profound statement by staying put and becoming the face of the “Buy into the Program” and be the best by beating the best (Blues down the road, Cuse, Ville).

    He is also tight with Bobby Lutz and as long as he is here at State, that gives us a better shot of retaining him IMO.

  10. Pacobee 04/03/2013 at 10:49 AM #

    Tyler
    Comes in as McD’s AA and gets used sparingly if at all until Zo gets injured. Was psyched to be here, part of that big 3 class. So why leave?

    Letdown over how used, new PG recruit coming in, …

    Not saying he shouldn’t tough it out and stay, but get it.

    It seems to me that the staff never figured out how to use him, didn’t work to develop him. The soft, lazy passes that turned into a pick 2 late in the season are perfect examples. We seemed to be living for the now. With the mass exodus, the risk was misplayed. Love Gott but the approach was wrong. Part of this is team leadership…Zo didn’t act like he owned the team until the disfunction was publicly getting in the way, Richard and Scott seem more introverted…did the seniors take over at any point? Really doubt that from my perceptions through Myers Briggs. So know you’re back to coaching. You have Gott and a really strong staff. How did they not get their hands around this? That’s my head scratcher. I sure hope they figure it out. I seem to remember researching Gott when Yow announced the hire. I found info about the undergrad affair but also about losing the team. If was editorial posts but real news but I am wondering. At the end of the day you have to be able to sell (A+), coach (B-/C+), and manage egos (INC). My grades…agree, disagree, it’s all good.

    Go Pack!

  11. Tau837 04/03/2013 at 10:53 AM #

    Do people really believe Warren will be told credibly that he would be a first round pick this year? I don’t know how credible sites like nbadraft.net and DraftExpress are, but neither shows him in their mock drafts or top 30 prospects. Interestingly, neither of those sites projects both Brown and Leslie as first rounders, either… So Warren would likely have to be taken ahead of one or both of them to be a first round pick. I don’t see that.

    I also don’t understand the Lewis transfer talk. Why leave when he is set to start? Why leave Lutz and Gott? He just committed to them a year ago.

    Of course, we’ve just seen a transfer that didn’t make much sense, and we’ve seen players go pro earlier than they should have, including this year. So I suppose none of this would really surprise me.

  12. ryebread 04/03/2013 at 11:32 AM #

    Cowdog: If Warren goes pro (at this point) and TL leaves (to sit out a year), then the site will and should be justified at the melt down.

    We need both back. We can’t recruit 3 McDonald’s AAs in one class and then have them all leave after a year.

  13. partialqualifier 04/03/2013 at 12:49 PM #

    2 things:

    1- If we lose all three, which would take a transfer total to 9 under Gott (including ALL of the players he himself recruited to State), after a season of complete decension…what reasonable fan wouldn’t meltdown? If this were to occur, the AD needs to ask some legitimate questions regarding what the hell is going on in the Dail Center, and let it be known that this has to be the LAST year we are embarrassed nationally by not being able to keep very good players who would have had TONS of playing time.

    2-For all of you who have continuously looked the other way throughout all the chaos of this season and kept blaming Leslie, Brown, Dethay, Purvis, Warren, Warren’s dad, Lewis and his parents, Syd Lowe, Herb Sendek, UNC, or whatever…if we lose Lewis and Warren, will you finally admit that there might be a porblem?

  14. ringo 04/03/2013 at 12:57 PM #

    Why are you posting “ifs”? What do you want out of people? Most everybody is blaming the entire team, which includes coaches. The year was not that bad though. Your big bad repercussions for Gott stressing you out is for Yow to give him a stern talking to? What is your point?

  15. blackdom 04/03/2013 at 1:14 PM #

    Josh Davis really? Well if TJ and Lewis were to leave Josh would be a positive. This could get very ugly quick. The blues, Syracuse,Louisville,Pitt,Notre Dame a tough road ahead.

  16. freshmanin83 04/03/2013 at 1:19 PM #

    Cowdog, looks like you won’t have to wait that long for the meltdown.

  17. Master 04/03/2013 at 1:23 PM #

    “We can’t recruit 3 McDonald’s AAs in one class and then have them all leave after a year.”

    Very Truly Yours,
    Coach Cal
    April, 2012

  18. partialqualifier 04/03/2013 at 1:31 PM #

    I’m sorry if it seems I am being negative. I realize the last two years have been decent. I especially enjoyed the Sweet 16 team. This past year was a disaster. Most national writers are giving this team either a D or F for this season, so I just cant buy all the optimism that some seem to have. I also realize that Yow will not fire a coach after 2 seasons. I guess what frustrates me is that so many State fans seem to have completely bought into a coach that ran an extremely dysfunctional program at Alabama, and lo and behold, after one decent season here, it becomes incredibly dysfunctional. This is why he couldnt get a job for several years, and we were the only ones offering him a job two years ago. I just read everyone here bad mouth every player on this team and dissenting fans, but the CEO a pass.

    This Purvis, whom some of you have criticized, is being shown lots of support by his teammates for leaving. I’ve read some of you call him a cancer, but his teammates are sad to see him leave, but very supportive. This particular sentence says it best:

    “Sad day for me especially. Losing a friend/teammate like@rpurvis_0 is never easy. I love you man. #foe better things in the future for you,” NC State freshman Tyler Lewis said on twitter roughly nine minutes after Purvis’ declaration. “Wherever my boy Rodney goes. He is going to destroy. Mark my word. Never doubt RP.”

  19. ringo 04/03/2013 at 1:47 PM #

    You are melting down at possibilities man. Just no need for that. If this was some epic disaster, we would not have finished in the NCAA’s or destroyed Virginia in perhaps our best game of the season, which was at the very end. I don’t know anyone who thinks Gott didn’t err somewhat in not giving Lewis more playing time. IMO Purvis may have gotten too much.

  20. packalum44 04/03/2013 at 2:03 PM #

    I bet if we paid players and didn’t make them go to class we would not be having any discussion about depth.

  21. tjfoose1 04/03/2013 at 2:32 PM #

    “Interesting” is one word.

    Wichita State replaced all 5 starters from last year. Not saying, just saying.

  22. Manada de lobos 04/03/2013 at 2:33 PM #

    The sky is falling croud really makes me giggle. Lets step away from the ledge and just go over the facts shall we?

    1. Gott has had two…TWO…players he has recruited leave the program. Hell they are the only two that acutually PLAYED for the man.

    2. The rest were LOWES PLAYERS. How can you blame Gott for players that the previous coach recruited wanting to leave?!?

    3. It has been known all year that LoBo and CJ were going to leave. Get over it.

    4. Yes, there were some underlying issues with this years team (playing time, chemistry, players skating by, lack of leadership, leprechauns, unicorns, the magic bullet that killed Kennedy/or the gunman on the grassy knoll) but NONE of us know exactly what they were.

  23. Mike 04/03/2013 at 2:38 PM #

    I read in the paper this AM Pitt is losing their top 2 players. One has committed to the draft and one is transferring out. What a shocker! I think there are serious issues going on at Pitt and someone should investigate.

  24. Wulfpack 04/03/2013 at 2:39 PM #

    I think there is legitimate cause for concern. His job gets much tougher. He has always been a tremendous recruiter, but there appear to be some deficiencies in other areas. I am not hearing good things about the way he runs a program.

  25. tjfoose1 04/03/2013 at 2:39 PM #

    “Zo didn’t act like he owned the team until the disfunction was publicly getting in the way, Richard and Scott seem more introverted…”

    Agreed, except ‘Zo NEVER acted like he owned the team. He did try to fake it for a week or so. Not blaming him, just an observation. Just not part of his makeup at this point in his development.

    Richard Howell was the only leader on the team. Unfortunately, his leadership was only of the “by example” variety. This team needed someone to cover the rest. No one did. Again, no blame to Richard. He did more than his part for this team.

1 2 3

Leave a Reply