Wolfpackers everywhere are desperate for some good news. So – no matter how subjective the good news may be – we wanted to link ESPN’s recent article from recruiting guru Bob Gibbons.
Gibbons ranks the 2009 college basketball recruiting classes as they currently stand and there is good news for NC State fans as the Wolfpack currently fill in at #6 in the country on the list.
Coach Sidney Lowe has again landed recruits from the talent-rich state of Georgia; among them are two ESPNU 100 players. Lorenzo Brown (Roswell, Ga./ Centennial), No. 48, can play both backcourt positions, and 6-8 PF Richard Howell (Marietta, Ga./ Wheeler), rated No. 58, will join him in North Carolina. Howell played on the same travel team as N.C. State’s freshman standout of last year, J. J. Hickson, who was drafted by the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Howell has the potential to make an impact comparable to that of Hickson for the Wolfpack next year. Coach Lowe also has a commitment from one of the nation’s best perimeter shooters, potential ESPNU 100 prospect 6-5 2G Scott Wood (Marion, Ind.). Although the Wolfpack now have players for all three of their available scholarships, they are still involved in talks with No. 81, 6-5 G/F Garrius Adams (Apex, N.C./ Middle Creek).
Obviously, Gibbons does not reference that NC State still has not been ruled out by either of the nation’s top two prospects – point guard, John Wall; or post player, Derrick Favors.
Gibbons current rankings are as follows:
(1) North Carolina, five verbal commitments
(2) Villanova, three verbal commits
(3) Georgetown, three verbal commits
(4) Texas A&M, three verbal commits
(5) Marquette, three verbal commits
(6) N.C. State, three verbal commitments
(7) Connecticut, two verbal commits
(8) Florida, two verbal commits
(9) Georgia Tech, four commits
(10) Illinois, four verbal commits
