Confirmed: Marques Johnson to NC State

Basketball Recruiting General NCS Basketball51

A lot of our recent conversations related to basketball recruiting discussed holes in the backcourt that will exist on State’s roster in the next couple of years before Julius Mays arrives in Raleigh.

Consider the hole filled.

Enter, Marques Johnson. (Not that Marques Johnson.)

This Marques Johnson is a freshman combo guard who has announced that he is transferring from Tennessee to NC State.

NC State has landed more backcourt help for next season. Freshman Tennessee guard Marques Johnson has decided to transfer to NC State according to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. He is expected to enroll at classes for the spring semester starting Wednesday. He will have at least two and a half seasons of eligibility starting with the conclusion of the 2007 fall exams.

Johnson, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., that nearly committed to NC State after an unofficial visit to the school over Memorial Day weekend in 2005, also considered Xavier. He was in Raleigh over the past weekend for a visit, sitting behind the bench during the Boston College game.

At 6-5 and 200 pounds, Johnson has superb size for the backcourt. Coming out of high school, Johnson was ranked by some services based on the shooting guard position that he had been playing; but Bruce Pearl and Tennessee’s staff clearly liked Johnson as a point guard. Ultimately, injury and competition limited Johnson’s time at the point and he has chosen to opt for a change of scenery.

Johnson’s recruiting rankings peaked in the Top 50 prior to his senior season. Ultimately, Scout.com listed him as a 4-star prospect and the (#21) shooting guard in America while Rivals settled on a three-star ranking and the (#130) overall player in his class.

These conversations are not meant as criticisms of Iowa State transfer, Farnold Degand; but more of a recognition that Degand is a combo guard and athlete as opposed to a someone who is expected to be equipped to run the point for an ACC program in his first year of college basketball.

Projected 2007-2008 NC State Basketball Roster

Senior Class
(1) Gavin Grant (2G/3F)

Junior Class
(2) Courtney Fells (2G)
(3) Ben McCauley (4F/5C)

Sophomore Class
(4) Brandon Costner (3F/4F)
(5) Trevor Ferguson (2G/PG)
(6) Dennis Horner (3F)
(7) Farnold Degand (1PG/2G)
(8) Bartosz Lewandowski (5C)

Freshman Class
(9) Johnny Thomas (3F)
(10) JJ Hickson (5C/4F)
(11) Tracy Smith (4F)
(12) Marques Johnson (PG) (eligible after first semester)

HS Senior Commits
(13) Julius Mays (PG)
(1) CJ Williams (3F/2G) [Gavin Grant’s old scholarship]

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Basketball Recruiting General NCS Basketball

51 Responses to Confirmed: Marques Johnson to NC State

  1. PurplePeopleEaters 01/07/2007 at 11:18 PM #

    Great signing there from Lowe. That will really help to have a young ballhandler to take over the PG position before Julius Mays gets here.

    A starting lineup of Fells, Grant, McCauley, Costner, and maybe Degand or Ferguson for the first 7 games should be enough next year. That gives us one true PG and two combo guards for next year.

  2. Woof Wolf 01/08/2007 at 12:04 AM #

    Don’t you think that J. J. and/or Tracy might crack that starting lineup?

  3. StateFans 01/08/2007 at 1:12 AM #

    ^ That opens all sorts of interesting scenarios.

    IF Coach Lowe decided that he had to have a point guard on the court (be it Degand or Johnson), then obviously someone has to sit.

    I am going to say something that some will think CRAZY…but, based on what I have seen thusfar this year, I could foresee Fells or Grant being the odd man out.

    I know it sounds crazy…but, I have been a lot more impressed with Brandon Costner this year than I have Gavin Grant. And, Costner has shown me that he can play the wing.

    So, if Coach Lowe chose to have a point guard on the floor, then I could forsee either Fells or Grant playing the 2G, Costner at 3F, McCauley at 4F, and Hickson at 5C.

  4. ShootingGuard 01/08/2007 at 1:22 AM #

    “So, if Coach Lowe chose to have a point guard on the floor, then I could forsee either Fells or Grant playing the 2G, Costner at 3F, McCauley at 4F, and Hickson at 5C.”

    I would have liked to see that lineup vs BC…

    Guys better come to play next year or there will be options off the bench…

  5. xphoenix87 01/08/2007 at 3:21 AM #

    It would depend on matchups, and it’s exciting to think that we’ll have that kind of versatility. Costner at the 3 would have worked against BC, because they pound it inside all the time. You wouldn’t see him at 3 against most teams though because he’s just not quick enough to guard most small forwards out on the perimeter. Also, one of his strengths is being able to pull big men away from the paint with his range, which wouldn’t be much of a factor at the 3 spot. It could work in some situations, and the sky is the limit for Costner so who knows, but I wouldn’t expect to see that kind of lineup too much.

    Man, I can’t possibly get any more excited about next year.

  6. StateFans 01/08/2007 at 7:20 AM #

    Guys better come to play next year or there will be options off the bench…

    ^ I don’t think the impact of this reality during this season can be under estimated. When guys don’t commit themselves to defense this year…there is no retribution as there is nobody to bring in. Guys can get away with a lot of things this year as there are NO options/competition waiting in the wings.

    This won’t be the case next year.

  7. nourider 01/08/2007 at 7:55 AM #

    What’s the status of Bartosz Lewandowski this year? Is he ineligible or injured? I haven’t seen him get any minutes at all.

  8. Dan 01/08/2007 at 8:06 AM #

    This is either about him not competing well enough to get on at UT, him being a bit of a baby, or Bruce Pearl getting a little greedy with all that guard depth. In the end, this is a better risk taken than some of the guys last year. The downside is waiting for ’08. The upside is a 6’5″ PG. Man, what a long team we will have.

    If Farnold and Johnny Thomas can contribute next year, we will have some depth. Now if we could just get Fells going THIS year. That kid is the key.

  9. Pack92 01/08/2007 at 8:27 AM #

    The big thing here is, once again, real talent is coming to NC State. I don’t think we will really know how important this is for 1-2 years but I’m betting it shows to be big.

  10. Sw0rdf1sh 01/08/2007 at 8:33 AM #

    It’s amazing how my thoughts on recruiting have been handled by Sidney and his staff. I was terrified this summer when some of our recruits started falling off.

    This addition is very nice and goes with our up and coming year very well.

    I agree that the guys won’t be able to slack off on D next year like some of the stuff I saw in the BC game. Back on the bench if they do!

  11. Mr O 01/08/2007 at 8:41 AM #

    We have had a ton of playing time to offer, so it will be interesting to see how recruiting goes in the 09 class.

    When I was watching the UNCG game last week, I was commenting to my buddy throughout the the game that players would be taken out after some of their mistakes if we had any capable players on the bench. Guys are getting an opportunity to play through mistakes, bad defense, bonehead plays this season. They better enjoy it.

    Nobody really talks about it, but I am still somewhat concerned that a player or two from the 07 class won’t qualify. I think we have two question marks and I still don’t know how Mt Zion not being accredited by the NCAA will come into play.

    Hopefully this is just me being paranoid.

    Interesting comments about Grant or Fells being the odd man out. I would be surprised if that happens with Grant and Fells both being very experienced upper classmen next season. Experience definitely matters in the ACC. But at least we will have the depth to substitute freely when guys are struggling and to keep our team fresh throughout the season.

  12. VaWolf82 01/08/2007 at 8:41 AM #

    Well the 2007 class turned out better than anyone had reason to hope for. Let’s hope that the FB recruiting turns out to be as good as the hoops did.

  13. BoKnowsNCS71 01/08/2007 at 8:47 AM #

    Tennessee has a pretty darn good coach in Coach Pearl. I know nothing about Marcques but getting less playing time brings up some questions:

    1. Is it because there are other player(s) better than him on the team? or
    2. Are there are some problems with his game? or
    3. Are there are some adaptability issues to Coach Pearl’s style of play?
    4. Other problems (grades, personal, etc)?

    I’m sure our coaches can and will help hone his skills but am not ready to jump and shout just yet. If people know more, please educate me on this kid.

  14. Mr O 01/08/2007 at 8:49 AM #

    Amen VaWolf82.

    This isn’t intended to be critical of Degand or Bartosz, but it would be very interesting to have one of those scholarships to offer someone else in the 08 class.

  15. choppack1 01/08/2007 at 8:59 AM #

    From reading about his performance in the spring game, I was led to believe Degande was a true PG. I’ve heard that his outside shot is suspect. How is Marquez’? I’m concerned about our perimeter game going forward.

    O – I’m assuming the questions marks academically are Smith and Hickson. Everything that I’ve read on Thomas indicates that grades won’t be an issue for him. Same thoughts regarding Big Lew…

  16. zahadum 01/08/2007 at 9:05 AM #

    Curious about this line in the Rivals article: “He will have at least two and a half seasons of eligibility”. I can never keep the transfer rules straight, but that seems to imply he could have 3 and half seasons. Is that why you’re listing him as a fr. and not a so.?

  17. PapaJohn 01/08/2007 at 9:31 AM #

    SFN – Great news! Thanks for the breakdown by year and position.
    If all of those guys play as well as their press clippings we should be the serious contender we want to be by 2008-2009.

  18. Gene 01/08/2007 at 9:36 AM #

    Smith got an 1100 on his SAT’s, so I’m assuming academics won’t be an issue for him. Never heard about Hickson having an issue with grades.

    This isn’t intended to be critical of Degand or Bartosz, but it would be very interesting to have one of those scholarships to offer someone else in the 08 class.

    I was thinking about Bartosz’s scholarship (I haven’t seen Degand play, so I have no comment about whether he will be a good or bad) and realized, even very talented, championship caliber teams, have odd-ball 7-footers on the roster. Carolina, in the early 90’s, had the likes of Zwikker, who wasn’t going to get a lot of minutes and Salvadori, who was tall and a good role player, but wasn’t an outstanding, dominant, big man. Also, Chuck Nevitt, hung around the NBA for 10 years (I think) being burried on the bench, but was kept on some good teams because he was tall and I guess good at practicing.

    The more I think about Zwikker and Nevitt’s NBA career, the less bothered I am about Bartosz Lewandowski having a scholarship here.

    He may fill out some needs, this year at least, in practice and hopefully can develop and give us some meaning full minutes like Salvador did for Carolina or Shensher (sp?) did for Georgia Tech, a few years ago.

  19. CarnifeX 01/08/2007 at 9:36 AM #

    I thought Horner looked really good and tenacious on D, it looked like Coach had him playing the top of the key in the 1-3-1 that we went to in the 2nd and his length really made that effective.

  20. RickJ 01/08/2007 at 9:43 AM #

    Johnson had some kind of hip injury in the preseason that limited his ability to compete for playing time. He has played in four games this year so he is not eligible for a regular redshirt. Apparently, Pearl wanted him to sit the remainder of this year and apply for a medical hardship redshirt. Johnson decided to leave.

    I suppose he could still get the medical hardship if he is not well enough to play. If we hear about him practicing with the team, I guess we can deduce this will not happen.

    It is strange to worry more about defense than offense with this year’s team. To follow up on Carnifex’s point – Does anybody else think this team’s best base defense might be a zone? I always loved that Temple match-up zone and the “amoeba zone” at UNLV. The 3 point shot has really limited the amount of zone you see now but we are pretty long and should be able to cheat toward the shooters. Rebounding, on the other hand, might be worse if that is possible.

  21. Mr O 01/08/2007 at 9:59 AM #

    Gene: IIRC, Mt. Zion isn’t accredited by the NCAA. They are on the list of “diploma factories” that the NCAA is looking into to see if they are legitimate educational institutions.

  22. Dan 01/08/2007 at 10:18 AM #

    Link

    Talk about your blowout victory. Julius Mays’ Marion team beat a county rival 80-29. Mays led all scorers with 17. It was 42-9 at half. So far Mays has some nice stats. He’s scoring 20 per game and shooting 48% from the arc. He’s shooting 80% from the charity stripe, averages 5 assists, and also leads the county in steals at 2.5 per game.

  23. VaWolf82 01/08/2007 at 10:25 AM #

    we should be the serious contender we want to be by 2008-2009.

    We have absolutely no idea who will be on the 08-09 team….so statements like this really bother me.

  24. Mr O 01/08/2007 at 10:35 AM #

    Vawolf82: Not to mention that we are currently loading our roster with the best available players. Herb did the same thing when he first got here with two pretty good recruiting classes. But once those classes and the next two were on the court together, these classes produced a roster that didn’t mesh in terms of skills and especially didn’t mesh in terms of team chemistry.

    Hopefully Lowe won’t face the same problems. It appears that we should have enough raw talent in the next two years, but we definitely should refrain from making predictions about contending for anything other than an NCAA tourey birth until we see next year’s team.

  25. primacyone 01/08/2007 at 10:42 AM #

    On a side note, I’m liking the fact that MJ is from Indiana as well. Historically that has been a great state to recruit from, and we are making some serious headlines within the basketball community of that state.

    If I’m not mistaken I believe Indiana has been in the top five historically – as far as producing top prep players go. Monte’s roots and history don’t hurt either.

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