Junior College SG Desmond Lee Picks the Pack [Updated 3:00pm]

13-14 Basketball Basketball Recruiting78

While we were typing our original entry, the Wolfpacker tweeted confirmation —

StateFansNation is picking up some super strong vibes that an announcement may be forthcoming that New Mexico Junior College shooting guard, Desmond Lee will be transferring to NC State.

Lee is a tremendous pick up for the Wolfpack, particularly in the wake of Rodney Purvis’ recent transfer. Lee has size and athleticism for the two guard, checking in around 6’4 range and close to 200 pounds. He averaged over 20 points a game and around 2 steals and 2 assists per contest; he also rebounds well for a guard, nabbing an average of almost six a game. After Purvis, State fans will find it refreshing that a ‘shooting guard’ can actually shoot free throws, as Lee hit ~77% of his attempts from the charity stripe last season.

It has been reported that Lee had scholarship offers from the likes of Miami, Arkansas, Baylor, Virginia Tech, Washington, Illinois and others. It was believed that Creighton, Baylor and NC State comprised Lee’s top three. Lee will have two years of eligibility remaining. The Wolfpacker had more in this article. You can see some of his highlights in the video below, if you can stomach the music.

Additionally, you’ll love this athleticism and strength:

With this great news, Wolfpack fans’ will immediately turn attention to Tulane transfer and former NC State forward, Josh Davis. Davis, originally from Raleigh and a member of Sidney Lowe’s recruiting class that just graduated (Richard Howell, Scott Wood), has been granted a release from Tulane after averaging 17+ points and 10 rebounds a game this past year for the Green Wave. Davis will have one year of eligibility remaining and would be able to play immediately using the graduate transfer rule like Alex Johnson and Russell Wilson.

As you can see from the scholarship configuration below, the addition of upper-classmen like Lee and Davis is hugely helpful to the program. A case could be made that State could stand to accept a couple of other transfers to help balance out the scholarships in the future.

Stay tuned. More to come.

Senior Class
(1) Jordan Vandenberg (C) (Redshirt)
(2) Hold for a 5th year graduate transfer – (PF/C)

Junior Class
(3) Ralston Turner (Wing) – transfer from LSU sat out 2012-2103
(4) Desomnd Lee (2G) – JUCO transfer from New Mexico Junior College

Sophomore Class
(5) Tyler Lewis (PG)
(6) TJ Warren (F)

Freshman Class – 2013 Commits
(7) Anthony Barber (PG)
(8) Kyle Washington (4F/5C)
(9) BeeJay Anya (4F/5C)
(10) Departure of Scott Wood
(11) Departure of Richard Howell
(12) Departure of Lorenzo Brown
(13) Departure of CJ Leslie

2014 Commits
(1) Caleb Martin (wing) (scheduled departure of Vandenberg)
(2) Cody Martin (wing) (scheduled departure of projected 5th year transfer)

About JackWolf

I'm an unapologetic NC State fan but also consider myself a rational one. Hit me up on twitter if you want to talk @NCStateFootball

13-14 Basketball Basketball Recruiting

78 Responses to Junior College SG Desmond Lee Picks the Pack [Updated 3:00pm]

  1. StateFans 04/08/2013 at 3:19 PM #

    By himself, Lee is not a ‘savior’. But it was imperative that the Pack landed a guard that could immediately contribute next year. At this point of his career, Lee does a lot of things better than Purvis. Additionally, if the attitude, maturity and coach-ability of the team improves then I think many people would’ve made the trade of Purvis for two years of Lee and never looked back. It appears that our coaching staff was willing to make that move.

  2. haze 04/08/2013 at 3:29 PM #

    Big get… as noted, not a savior but likely starter quality player who will give us a lot more line-up flexibility.

    Fully covers RP’s departure.

  3. Rochester 04/08/2013 at 3:29 PM #

    Nice. If we can bring Davis back and land another HS recruit (and not lose anyone else) I like the way things are shaping up. We could wind up being a much more solid fundamental team with enough weapons to put up a lot of points.

  4. JEOH2 04/08/2013 at 3:35 PM #

    All eyes turn to Josh Davis indeed…hope to hear more news on that front soon enough…

    Hope that Lee can bring some leadership, maturity, energy, and competitivness…JuCo guys are generally excited to play at a high level and thankful for the opportunity so they work harder…if we can just get that from Lee he’ll be a positive addition…

  5. WeAreCured 04/08/2013 at 3:37 PM #

    The pieces of the sky continue to return to their previous positions.

  6. vtpackfan 04/08/2013 at 3:42 PM #

    His stats this year in JuCo are actually gaudy. He averaged just over 17 minutes a game.

    No guarantee, but in the right system, he could really be a dangerous weapon. Size alone will give him a decent chance to get over the learning curve quickly.

  7. Thinkpack17 04/08/2013 at 3:43 PM #

    He looks a lot more polished than Purvis. More basketball player who happens to be a great athlete, less athlete who happens to play basketball.

  8. redcanine 04/08/2013 at 3:44 PM #

    Desmond = Baller

    NC State needs = Ballers

    (or something like that)

    NC State fans love = State ballers that play their asses off every game.

  9. packalum44 04/08/2013 at 4:09 PM #

    Very very fortunate. He most likely would have gone elsewhere if Purvis stayed. We needed another shooting threat outside of Turner.

    If we land Josh Davis (would not bet on it) I’d be on top of the world again. The roller coaster that is being a State fan. Jesus.

  10. hoop 04/08/2013 at 5:11 PM #

    This is a big relief! Now if we can just land Davis we will have a pretty sold team for next year.

  11. haze 04/08/2013 at 5:36 PM #

    Des is only 33% from 3pt, not likely to change us much there. Tyler, TJ & Ralston are the guys that will need to step up from 3.

    Lee replaces RP and, frankly, is likely to be a better player than RP next year. Scoring, some rebs, good D… that’ll do it.

    Like seeing some hope of depth in the backcourt… 2 PG’s, a couple of guys capable at WG/WF (Lee, Turner), TJ as a WF/PF with potential to add Davis as an athletic PF/WF. Down low remains a concern.

  12. 13OT 04/08/2013 at 5:38 PM #

    He looks really talented. I certainly hope his attitude is better than that of the rapper doing this “music”, though.

    I’ve had enough of attitudes in our program. How about more TEAM players?

  13. JohnGalt78 04/08/2013 at 5:43 PM #

    Net, net , net….we’re better off. I personally think significantly so. RP would have likely only stayed at most 2 more years. Interesting how all that played out. Basically we traded up.

  14. Pack78 04/08/2013 at 5:56 PM #

    “The pieces of the sky continue to return to their previous positions.”

    Agreed WAC…no one wants to get hit by ‘a corn’…

  15. phillypacker 04/08/2013 at 6:12 PM #

    Great ball handling. He dove to the floor for a loose ball, oooooh. Looks like a great addition. With what you said about the music, I feel ya. The first bit by a young man named Marshall, second seemed very pro-pimp. I would have preferred Beastie Boys back in the day, but ok.

  16. poorfarmer 04/08/2013 at 6:13 PM #

    I’m liking what this coaching staff is doing, i am not of the opinion that we are gonna be bad next year. I think a lot of folks are going to be pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait to settle in my seats next year and see how it all comes together!!! Go Pack!!!

  17. phillypacker 04/08/2013 at 6:14 PM #

    By the way, can someone check on partial qualifier and the other scared kids and tell them its ok to come out now? All that worry is bad stress. Sky still up. I wonder if Josh Davis will want to be in a rotation where he may not get as much PT as he did at Tulane but much more than he did when he was here last.

  18. MP 04/08/2013 at 6:29 PM #

    What’s wrong with Gottfried?
    😉

  19. TOBtime 04/08/2013 at 6:39 PM #

    Friggin’ awesome is what it is.

    Welcome to the Pack Mr. Lee!

  20. TLeo 04/08/2013 at 7:08 PM #

    This young man should be a welcome addition to the team and with a couple years experience already, he could be a good influence on the younger guys.

  21. MrPlywood 04/08/2013 at 7:12 PM #

    I say State should turn him down until he changes that music 😛

  22. TOBtime 04/08/2013 at 7:16 PM #

    ^philly, Davis could see the floor PLENTY if he comes. Should know soon.

  23. BJD95 04/08/2013 at 7:28 PM #

    Seven good players for the rotation, only one (Washington) who may not be quite physically ready for heavy minutes. Add Davis, and it’s 8. Then we really only have to count on Washington for 8-10 regular minutes, more when Anya gets in foul trouble.

    That’s something workable for sustained success, with at least some margin of safety. Like it.

  24. JeremyH 04/08/2013 at 7:32 PM #

    BJD, someone said before that Washington was more game ready then Anya, reason not given. So which is it? : )

    So that’s nice that he and Turner both have two years remaining, maybe some much needed stability. I really hope that Lee becomes a glue guy. Gotta have them.

  25. choppack1 04/08/2013 at 7:34 PM #

    Huge pick up! Critical piece to any success next year.

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