Trevor Lacey to turn pro – 2016 excitement deflated

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. @TrevorLacey5 plans to declare for #NBADraft –> http://t.co/B6zeNfZ8a9 pic.twitter.com/iVnsWCJ1NP

— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBball) April 15, 2015 ” target=”_blank”>Link

N.C. State announced Wednesday that guard Trevor Lacey, who turns 24 in October, plans to enter the NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-3 Lacey averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a redshirt junior during the 2014-15 season, when he made the All-ACC second team and led the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16.

“I would like to thank the coaching staff, university and fans for a wonderful experience the last two years at N.C. State, but I’d like to declare for the NBA Draft,” Lacey said in a school-issued release.

“I had a great group of teammates the last two years, and they’ll always be like brothers to me. This has been the toughest decision of my life. But I feel like pursuing this new journey in my basketball career is what is best for me.”

Lacey played two years at Alabama before transferring to N.C. State, and he sat out the 2013-14 season per NCAA rules. His age, along with a skill level that made him the nation’s most efficient and effective isolation scorer, are factors in the decision to turn pro.

He doesn’t have elite athleticism or foot speed, though, one reason he is ranked No. 96 on ESPN analyst Chad Ford’s list of top-100 draft prospects. There are only two rounds and 60 picks in the NBA Draft.

Only two of the top 10 players from a 22-14 team in 2014-15 were seniors, but Lacey joins fellow wing Ralston Turner, the team’s second-leading scorer, and backup guard Desmond Lee in departing. It’s still unclear if point guard Cat Barber will return following a strong sophomore season, and post player Kyle Washington saw his minutes drop as he became the Wolfpack’s fourth interior option late in the season, although he did have a significant impact in two NCAA tournament games.

Without Lacey or Turner available, the Wolfpack could replace them in the starting lineup with 6-4 guard Terry Henderson, who sat out the 2014-15 season as a West Virginia transfer, and one of the Martin twins. Caleb Martin started one game and ranked sixth on the team with a 4.8 scoring average as a freshman, and Cody Martin made three starts as a defensive-minded wing.

N.C. State hasn’t signed any Class of 2015 recruits.

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Home › Forums › Trevor Lacey to turn pro – 2016 excitement deflated

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  • 04/15/2015 at 3:34 PM #85027
    StateFans
    Keymaster

    . @TrevorLacey5 plans to declare for #NBADraft –> http://t.co/B6zeNfZ8a9 pic.twitter.com/iVnsWCJ1NP— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBbal
    [See the full post at: Trevor Lacey to turn pro – 2016 excitement deflated]

    04/15/2015 at 3:41 PM #85028
    PackofMac
    Participant

    how do I spell or type the sound of a balloon deflating…..

    04/15/2015 at 3:41 PM #85029
    walton
    Participant

    I think this is a mistake for Lacey. If I thought it was in his best interest, I would be all for him going Pro. But I think the chances are too high that he won’t get drafted or will end up getting cut. IMO, he could have had a chance to be ACC Player of the year next year and better draft prospects. Hope I’m wrong.

    04/15/2015 at 3:42 PM #85030
    WTNY
    Participant

    College basketball is just not worth it.

    04/15/2015 at 3:46 PM #85031
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Ernie Myers thought this was likely of a radio show right after our tourney ended. The kid is 24 and only has so many years of pro ball a head of him. He probably won’t get drafted and a senior year would not necessarily get him there either. Even in Europe he will make more than I am now. So, not really a mistake for Trevor, it just sucks for us. This should keep the twins happy. More PT for them.

    04/15/2015 at 3:47 PM #85032
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Myers said it on a radio show. Poor writing.

    04/15/2015 at 3:48 PM #85033
    redisgood
    Participant

    I don’t think Trevor gets drafted even next year if he stayed. Tough for us fans, but I can help but think he’s making the right personal decision.

    04/15/2015 at 3:53 PM #85034
    Mike
    Participant

    Is he signing with an agent or declaring with the ability to back out?

    04/15/2015 at 3:58 PM #85035
    walton
    Participant

    The news says no agent yet.

    04/15/2015 at 4:00 PM #85036
    redisgood
    Participant

    Well, it doesn’t sound like someone who is leaving the door open:

    “I would like to thank the coaching staff, university and fans for a wonderful experience the last two years at NC State, but I’d like to declare for the NBA Draft,” Lacey said. “I had a great group of teammates the last two years, and they’ll always be like brothers to me. This has been the toughest decision of my life. But I feel like pursuing this new journey in my basketball career is what is best for me.”

    04/15/2015 at 4:00 PM #85037
    WTNY
    Participant

    Deadline to withdraw and return to college basketball was yesterday.

    He’s gone.

    And so are any hopes of an ACC title next year. Will be 29 years and counting…

    04/15/2015 at 4:04 PM #85038
    walton
    Participant

    I don’t know the NBA draft rules but here is what an NBC News article said: “Per a source, Lacey will not be signing with an agent right away, giving him a chance to “test the waters”, so to speak. The NCAA deadline to officially withdraw his name from the draft was April 14th, while the NBA’s deadline to put his NBA into the draft in April 26th. He’ll have a week and a half to decide whether he’s going to put his name into the mix, but once he does, his college eligibility will be over.”

    Copied and pasted verbatim.

    04/15/2015 at 4:12 PM #85039
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Every last one of you would do the same thing. It makes perfect sense.

    Besides, I don’t see this as a big loss. Warren should have been a bigger one in terms of what could be projected going into this season.

    R-E-L-A-X

    Don’t let a corn fall on your noggin.

    04/15/2015 at 4:13 PM #85040
    44rules
    Participant

    Sad for us, but I hope it works for him. Didn’t realize he was that old – that really makes the decision understandable, even if does wind up in Europe or elsewhere.

    As for me, well FML.

    Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy. Mao Zedong

    04/15/2015 at 4:17 PM #85041
    Prowling Woofie
    Participant

    Hope Henderson can light it up, and hope Gottfried is camping out in Kinston these days…

    04/15/2015 at 4:24 PM #85042
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Should make Malik Newman think about a position just waiting for him with the Wolfpack.

    04/15/2015 at 4:25 PM #85043
    WolfWiz11
    Participant

    There’s still the chance that one or both of the twins develops into a starter. Also, maybe this makes State a more viable option for other recruits. Silver linings?

    04/15/2015 at 4:32 PM #85044
    BrickyardMayhem
    Participant

    I’m sorry but when is the last time a Wolfpack undergrad left early to declare for the NBA draft and really played? Excuse me, but what are the likes of Leslie or Brown doing? Remember Powell? The list goes on… You can say it is the right thing but when you look at everyone else that is leaving the college ranks and trying to determine if there is a legitimate spot on an NBA roster, you really have to determine whether it will be no worse the next year.. And don’t say Warren because the jury is still out on that one.

    04/15/2015 at 4:33 PM #85045
    44rules
    Participant

    Here’s a silver lining: I just traded for Carlos Rodon in my 20-year-old fantasy baseball keeper league.

    Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy. Mao Zedong

    04/15/2015 at 4:34 PM #85046
    redisgood
    Participant

    Losing Trevor is going to hurt no doubt, but I will say I went to most of the home games this year, and I thought one of our best games of the year was a game in Reynolds against Charleston Southern. Trevor tweaked his ankle and didn’t play, so Caleb started in his place. It helped that Martin was absolutely on fire, but the important thing is, the team did just fine without him. At least for that one game. Dez played a lot of minutes in that game as well, and that is where losing Lacey is really going to hurt. We basically have no back-up point guard at the moment. However, I’m pretty sure the staff is working on something to help overcome that issue.

    04/15/2015 at 4:41 PM #85047
    Texpack
    Participant

    I’m not nearly as worried about the SG spot as I am the back up PG. We have Henderson and both Martins to cover the wing minutes.

    Lacey was a really big key to our season. I really liked his stones when it was time to take a big shot. Best of luck to him. He represented NC State very well this year.

    Let’s see if this makes any recruits take a second look.

    04/15/2015 at 4:42 PM #85048
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Corchiani – Sr.

    04/15/2015 at 4:44 PM #85049
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Yea we really need a grad student or a Ju Co or Malik Newman.

    04/15/2015 at 4:46 PM #85050
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Lacey seems like a good dude and always comes across as really likable (to me). Good luck to him. I hope he finds a lot of success.

    04/15/2015 at 4:54 PM #85051
    tractor57
    Participant

    Mr. Dog makes a lot sense in both the reasoning and the future for our program. I hope he becomes the RW of the NBA. A long shot I know but but he has represented the Pack well.

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