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. BJD95 04/08/2013 at 7:35 PM #

    PG1 – Cat Barber
    PG2 – WBS
    Swing – Lee/Turner
    Stretch 4 – Buckets
    C – Anya

    Bench – Turner/Lee, Davis, Washington

    Versatility. We can play Davis alongside Anya, move Buckets to swing and play big. We can (and should) start with dual PG look and sub in liberally after the first 5 minutes. I like this rotation. Clearly has tourney potential. And maybe able to be more focused and relaxed given a “middle of the pack” predicted finish. I look forward to seeing this group play.

  2. highstick 04/08/2013 at 7:43 PM #

    Whatever! If you have to put your talents to a rap tune(and that’s stretching it), you gotta show me more than your ability really “juke and jive” on the court…

    Otherwise….whatever !

  3. BJD95 04/08/2013 at 7:47 PM #

    My read is that Anya is less refined offensively, but he can be a force defensively and on the boards right away. We need that more than we need offense from the 5. As long as he can pass adequately.

  4. mak4dpak 04/08/2013 at 7:48 PM #

    I am just glad his FT is 77%, some of the guys were scary at the line, when the game was on the line. CJL, RP most notably! I see some promise with the coming season. Sometimes things work out for the better. Guess we will find out.

  5. choppack1 04/08/2013 at 8:06 PM #

    Just reviewed his stat sheet… I am a little worried about his fg % 33% from 3 and 43% overall.

    He will need to shoot better than that to be an effective 2g in the acc.

  6. poorfarmer 04/08/2013 at 8:19 PM #

    I know i will probably get blasted for saying this but i am new to this site, why is there no one saying anything about the pack sweeping the hokies in baseball this weekend? Great job pack!

    Wufpacker – Not blasting you, but scroll down the front page, VT baseball series thread is there. Comments include updates of sorts during/after all three games. Opted not to put up a separate recap of the series this weekend mostly because up to this point is seems that anyone who bothers to read them likely already knew the outcome anyway. A bit of a Pavlovian response on my part to be sure I suppose, but I have better things to do than talk to myself.

  7. BJD95 04/08/2013 at 8:26 PM #

    I can’t wait to see how Lee and Turner’s games/strengths complement one another. This is the x factor that interests me the most.

  8. eas 04/08/2013 at 8:26 PM #

    I hope we pick up Davis but I doubt he wants to ride the bench anywhere.

  9. BJD95 04/08/2013 at 8:33 PM #

    Davis would be a 20-25 mpg guy, whether he starts or not. I think that’s plenty of minutes to be attractive. Anya will get in foul trouble, I predict. A lot.

  10. EdMar 04/08/2013 at 8:39 PM #

    Last week the “sky was falling” an all of a sudden things do not look that bad (on paper)

    PGs – Lewis, Barber
    Guards- Turner, Lee
    SF- Warren
    Big guys- Anya, Wahington, Vanderberg

    One more “big one” would really help.

  11. john of sparta 04/08/2013 at 8:53 PM #

    let’s just admit it.
    we’re all ‘Annie Savoy’ for college basketball.
    the NCAA is so stupid sub-minor league.
    we.do/they.do/we.got/they.don’t.
    it’s pay for play or go away.
    after age 18, you Get Paid.

  12. Hrryhood 04/08/2013 at 9:36 PM #

    Lee is definitely a good grab…. but.

    How do you know he is a trade up? He most definitely has more experience but he has been competing against lower level players.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Purvis has moved on. I think his poor performance had more to do with his attitude and feeling of entitlement than his actual talent.

    Where is this Josh Davis shiz coming from? I want to see evidence. Do you know Josh? Have you talked to Gott? Are you the minister at Josh’s mother’s church? Stop the ridiculousness.

    Why has the trolling become worse on this board? Is the LF growing to a larger than life entity?

    Ok, my rant is over. I will go back to my lurking.

  13. mak4dpak 04/08/2013 at 9:58 PM #

    Poorfarmer, it was great to see us sweep the 22nd ranked hokies in baseball, however one of our bloggers will have to give us a blog on that one, this one is about Lee and basketball. Maybe someone will give them kudos tomorrow.

  14. packalum44 04/08/2013 at 10:12 PM #

    I take it as a good sign that BJD includes Josh Davis in his mock lineup. He is an undersized guy, perhaps Howell’s height of 6’7, but much more athletic.

    Anya doesn’t have post moves yet, but what freshman center do? We need him defensively. Bad. Our biggest deficiency defensively was post personnel. We didn’t have the size to defend against the elite post players, or rebound in decisive moments. No one in the NCAA will be able to push him around.

    Washington doesn’t have bulk, but neither did CJ. He SUCKED defensively and had poor fundamentals. He tried to steal the in-bounds almost half the time. That’s an easy out, if you will.

  15. JohnGalt78 04/08/2013 at 10:25 PM #

    I just know.

  16. JeremyH 04/08/2013 at 10:36 PM #

    which comments are trolling?

  17. Pack1998 04/08/2013 at 11:13 PM #

    We needs some bigs.

    Ain’t gonna be good if no size down low. Look at our team – there are 3 guys over 6’6″, sans Vans, and 2 are freshmen.

    Gotta have Davis. And really need another one.

    Nice pick up – Lova ya Lee – Run with the Pack!

    And will always say – best of luck for Purvis, no hard feelins.

  18. Texpack 04/08/2013 at 11:16 PM #

    We are one JUCO/transfer big man away from having a solid team next year. Nice pick up today.

  19. Alpha Wolf 04/09/2013 at 1:00 AM #

    There are rumors – I can’t attribute them, but they are out there – that State may be getting a transfer in from another big program. That’s all that was said, not who, or from where, or anything else.

    Could just be someone spitballin’, but I’ve heard it from a couple different people who are tuned in a little better than me.

    We’ll see.

  20. packfan1 04/09/2013 at 7:14 AM #

    Has anyone heard anything about Torian Graham? Is he still on the radar?

  21. JohnGalt78 04/09/2013 at 7:41 AM #

    What exactly is trolling?

  22. Wufpacker 04/09/2013 at 7:52 AM #

    ^ I always thought it was hanging out under bridges then getting your ass kicked because you waited for the big goat.

  23. rtpack24 04/09/2013 at 8:09 AM #

    On a basketball note, the Martin twins will be going to Oak Hill next year. This move should be a huge plus in their development.

  24. rtpack24 04/09/2013 at 8:11 AM #

    There are some other transfers in the mix. However with all the coaches returning from the final 4 this should shake out fairly quick. State is in the mix for at least one more transfer not counting Davis.

  25. Rick 04/09/2013 at 8:27 AM #

    “PG1 – Cat Barber
    PG2 – WBS
    Swing – Lee/Turner
    Stretch 4 – Buckets
    C – Anya (aka the Spruce Goose)”

    Adding Davis to this gives us a good rotation on with the bigs and some needed experience. It will be interesting to see how the starters and rotations work themselves out. We should see a solid 8 man rotation, if not I will wonder why.

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