Trevor Lacey to turn pro – 2016 excitement deflated

15-16 Basketball283

. @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

Viewing 25 posts - 251 through 275 (of 284 total)
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  • 04/24/2015 at 1:49 PM #85647
    backthebackagain
    Participant
    redisgood wrote:
    Pack Mentality wrote:

    So next year are we expected to be a lot worse than our Sweet 16 team this year with a more experienced Cat Barber, Anya, Freeman, and Abu? That’s a pretty solid lineup if you ask me.

    Just a few cautionary notes:

    – Last year we had three true guards, and all could play the point. This year we have one;
    – We would not have made the NCAAT without Lacey;
    – Kyle Washington won a couple of games for us, and he is gone

    I’m sure Gott will fill in a blank or two with a juco or grad transfer, but the pickings are getting pretty slim.

    Basically we are one injury from disaster.

    And to throw more tires on this fire, we most likely are losing Anya, Cat and Abu after the 2015 season.

    04/24/2015 at 1:50 PM #85648
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    Rick, just so I’m clear…. You said that I answered my own question. I actually asked 3 questions. Which one did I answer, or am I to assume you meant that because Gott has no recruits lined up for next year that that is “evidence” that he has peaked? Really?

    04/24/2015 at 1:52 PM #85650
    redisgood
    Participant

    Rick, I agree, that is disappointing. Even if Trevor stayed, there still would be plenty of PT to offer a recruit. Losing Eric Davis to Texas was a crusher.

    04/24/2015 at 1:56 PM #85651
    Rick
    Keymaster
    Wolfanatic wrote:

    Rick, just so I’m clear…. You said that I answered my own question. I actually asked 3 questions. Which one did I answer, or am I to assume you meant that because Gott has no recruits lined up for next year that that is “evidence” that he has peaked? Really?

    I would say the fact we have seven scholarship players only one of which is a guard and zero recruits is certainly a concern at this point.
    The recruiting has been trending down.
    Yeah I would say these things could be taken as signs things are not on a upward trend.

    04/24/2015 at 2:21 PM #85652
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    ^ Indeed, it is a matter of concern, but there is time to go, and I definitely don’t see this as evidence that Gott has peaked. You say that recruiting is trending down, and with zero recruits so far that is hard to argue, but Rivals rated last year’s class #22 down from #15 the year before. Abu (45), Caleb Martin (#60), and Cody Martin (#81) was an excellent class. No, we didn’t get three Big Macs as we did in 2012, but what did that get us outside of T.J.Warren? 2013’s class was Barber (#15), Anya (#58), Kyle Washington (#93) and Desmond Lee (Juco 3 star)- also not a bad class. Between the ’13-’14 classes (7 players) some State fans are predicting that 3 of them (Anya, Barber & Abu) will be turning pro after next season. If that’s true, then I’d say Gott has done a good job of recruiting since he came to State, Just because he has no 5 stars lined up for next season, at this point, does not mean the sky is falling. Geez, and I thought I was a doom and gloomer.

    04/24/2015 at 2:29 PM #85653
    Rick
    Keymaster

    does not mean the sky is falling

    Where did I say the sky is falling? No need to exagerate a position to try to make a point. Your post up until that statement was very good.
    Of course if you are correct about those three leaving and we do not pull in some serious talent quickly then…

    04/24/2015 at 3:09 PM #85654
    ncsu_kappa
    Participant

    Rick your post always imply the sky is falling.

    Your avatar is actually pretty contradictory to your cynical posts. Then you reference your comments as if you are merely just stating facts and only facts. However, more often than not, you post your pessimistic opinion/interpretations of the facts. There is a big difference between the two.

    I guess having faith has left you to often disappointed so now you choose the role of the sky is always falling approach. That way when it does you receive the inner gratification of knowing you were right and then when it doesn’t you can state that the success was somehow a fluke and the sky will fall next time.

    Its shocking that you didn’t see yourself as the “sky is falling guy”

    04/24/2015 at 3:28 PM #85655
    VaWolf82
    Keymaster
    Wolfanatic wrote:

    Just because he has no 5 stars lined up for next season, at this point, does not mean the sky is falling.

    I didn’t see anyone say that the sky was falling. Recruiting has been trending down ever since the class with Purvis and Warren….all the way down to zero freshman (so far) for next year. While that doesn’t mean that the sky is falling, it is certainly reason to be concerned.

    BTW, Malik Newman chose MSU as expected:

    http://www.clarionledger.com/story/mississippistatesports/2015/04/24/msu-five-star-malik-newman-chooses-mississippi-state/26303501/

    04/24/2015 at 3:44 PM #85656
    WolfWiz11
    Participant

    I don’t think it’s negative to point out reality. It is disconcerting to not have a single recruit, burger boy or not, for this fall. Add that to the likelihood of Cat, Anya, and Abu leaving next year, and it is scary. But, what will be, will be.

    Not surprised by the news on Newman. That’s where an elite 8 appearance might have helped our recruiting. Just to get us over the hurdle.

    04/24/2015 at 3:45 PM #85657
    Pack1997
    Participant

    For years I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on everything in regards to NC State athletics. This basketball season though has been truly ugly. You would think we had a losing record. I would be interested to know how many people on here who think Gott isn’t getting it done, also want Archie to come here. You see if you already have it in your mind you want Archie here, then Gott won’t be good enough for you until he wins a championship or Archie goes somewhere else. The truth is very few coaches could have done what Gott has in the amount of time he has been here. Our AD was in shambles. Every sports program for the most part had a losing culture. You cannot change things until the culture is changed. That culture is getting much better! I have seen us truly get better as a program every season. Until Gott has consistently failed he deserves your support. He has earned that much.

    04/24/2015 at 5:03 PM #85660
    ncsu_kappa
    Participant

    Why does everyone think Anya, Abu, and Cat are all going pro? If they are that great next year we are sitting on a final four team and should be grateful. Those three pros plus Henderson and the twins and we still have a great team. Then just imagine the ammunition Gott would have to recruit with.

    * you can come play right away
    * I’m putting 3 kids in the league next year
    * If I can put those three in you are a shoe in lol

    If you folks with the pro predictions are correct we have 3 All-ACC players on next year’s team and still want to say Gott is doing a bad job. Or are we really that spoiled to where we are being negative about the 2016-2017 season?

    04/24/2015 at 8:36 PM #85664
    WolfWiz11
    Participant

    To clarify, I don’t see Cat being ready to leave after next season. And I’m iffy on Anya from an offensive/physical stamina standpoint. But Abu could, if he takes another big leap and continues his stud-like play. And it would mean major props to Gott IMO.

    04/24/2015 at 10:34 PM #85666
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    I’m still a little confused about recruiting tailing off. If a class of Barber, Anya, Washington, Freeman and Turner followed by Abu, the Martins and Lacey is ‘tailing off’, I hope we keep tailing off.

    Yes I realize we don’t have anyone this year (Technically true but we do add Henderson into the rotation). I just don’t think it’s because Gott suddenly lost the ability to recruit.

    BTW, anybody see Coach Mox’s rant on twitter?

    A festivus for the rest of us.

    Love that passion.

    04/25/2015 at 8:45 AM #85669
    choppack1
    Participant

    I think most of us can agree that this is troubling. However, the good news is that we have kept cat, freeman and Anya until their junior years and that all 3 recruits from last year are returning.

    If gott can continue to have that kind of retention and bring in talented classes 3 out of 4 years, we’ll be fine.

    04/25/2015 at 3:06 PM #85674
    Pack Mentality
    Participant

    LOL at people who are bringing up a potential problem of Cat, Abu, and Anya all going pro early after next season. That would mean we have 3 NBA players on the team, which usually translates into an excellent season. So that point of concern is now all about a potentially bad year 2 seasons from now?

    04/26/2015 at 9:51 AM #85677
    Rick
    Keymaster
    Pack Mentality wrote:

    LOL at people who are bringing up a potential problem of Cat, Abu, and Anya all going pro early after next season. That would mean we have 3 NBA players on the team, which usually translates into an excellent season. So that point of concern is now all about a potentially bad year 2 seasons from now?

    I guess Lacey is ‘NBA ready’ too right?
    Since when does a player have to be ‘NBA ready’ to leave a Gott coached team? Three of the last four early entrants were not ‘NBA ready’.
    Lol indeed
    Again 63% of Gott’s players have left with eligibility remaining.
    ‘Nothing to see here.’

    04/26/2015 at 9:56 AM #85678
    Rick
    Keymaster

    Back to scrounging for a fifth year senior to fill out a team. Just like his first year.

    04/26/2015 at 10:14 AM #85679
    AsheWolf
    Participant

    Yepper. Just like his first year when we were also coming off a sweet 16 appearance. It really sucks. FIRE GOTTFRIED!!!!

    04/26/2015 at 3:49 PM #85687
    ancsu87
    Participant
    Rick wrote:

    Back to scrounging for a fifth year senior to fill out a team. Just like his first year.

    So if you were the AD what is your great plan for NC State BB?

    04/26/2015 at 7:20 PM #85694
    pakfanistan
    Participant
    Rick wrote:

    Again 63% of Gott’s players have left with eligibility remaining.

    What was it Samuel Clemens said about statistics?

    04/26/2015 at 7:39 PM #85698
    Wulfpack
    Participant

    “No one is happy with the transfer rate, particularly in the sport of men’s basketball,” Lennon said. “When 40 percent of your students are leaving after their second year, that’s a signal something’s wrong.”

    04/26/2015 at 7:49 PM #85699
    Heelh8r
    Participant

    That is a great question for Rick, ancsu. Be interesting to see if you get a “substantial” response. It’s easy to find fault, but not as easy to provide answers. Just like politics.

    04/26/2015 at 8:24 PM #85700
    tractor57
    Participant

    The transfer/leaving early rate is way up for all major programs but even back in Sloan’s or Valvano’s day there were transfer/leaving early issues every year. I’ve seen nothing to tell me Gott is any worse or any better than most current coaches.
    As always the same views from the same people (including me). Has that changed anyone’s thinking?

    04/27/2015 at 12:55 AM #85710
    fullmoon1
    Participant

    We may have some players declare for the draft next year but don’t confuse that with going pro. Two different things.

    04/27/2015 at 6:38 AM #85713
    fullmoon1
    Participant

    Let me clarify so I don’t sound like a jerk. What I mean is,we have seen too many players not make it in the nba. Let’s hope we don’t have players to declare and then end up having to settle and not make it in the nba.

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