As was discussed on our message forums in real time, Fayetteville native, Dennis Smith, Jr has committed to run with the Pack and become the lead commitment in what may end up being one of the two or three best recruiting classes in NC State basketball history!
Dennis Smith Jr., the No. 4 player in the ESPN 100 and No. 1 point guard in the 2016 class, has told ESPN he will attend NC State.
Five-star point guard Dennis Smith Jr., the No. 1 point guard in the 2016 class, will be a good fit in an NC State offense that favors freedom and movement.
Smith chose the Wolfpack over Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, Duke and Wake Forest.“Growing up an NC State fan, I knew they would be one of my top schools,” Smith said. “Coach [Mark] Gottfried made me a priority, showing up, sitting in front to all my games in the live periods. That loyalty meant a lot to me. After giving the decision a lot of thought, we all felt State was the best situation for me.”
The 6-2, 190-pound Smith is recovering from a torn left ACL suffered while driving to the basket in the semifinals of the Adidas Nations event on Aug. 2. Smith underwent surgery Aug. 7, and his timetable for recovery is expected to be 6-9 months.
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Smith is NC State’s highest-rated recruit since ESPN began ranking prospects in 2007, but the Wolfpack are also involved with another North Carolina-based prospect, Edrice “Bam” Adebayo (No. 8), and might not be done luring elite-level recruits to Raleigh. Gottfried and assistant coach Orlando Early traveled by helicopter to meet with Adebayo’s mother in Pineville, North Carolina on Wednesday — the first day of the fall recruiting period — and then flew to Fayetteville to meet with Smith at his school, only to finish the day with Adebayo at his school, High Point Christian.
— NCSU Fans (@NCSUAthIetics) September 10, 2015
