Julius Hodge Sighting

One of the most common questions that we have gotten over the past month is: "What happened to Julius Hodge?" Earlier this month Julius Hodge was in Chicago practicing with the Bulls summer league team with Brandon Costner. When the plane took off for Vegas Hodge wasn't on board, for a reason unknown. We have tried aggressively to find information on what happened to Julius and what his plans are next.

With all of this being said...BounceMag is reporting that Julius Hodge is up in New York playing in the Nike Pro City League with the Gold's Gym team along side former Duke standout Jason Williams. While we are unaware of how long he has been playing in the league, last night Hodge scored 21 points and grabbed 10 boards in a 107-106 loss to the Uptowners. As the Nike Pro City League continues, we will keep you posted on Julius' performances.

McMillan Backs Lowe

He's turned around the abysmal Blazers, Kobe Bryant named him as one of two coaches he'd like to play for in the future, and now Nate McMillan has something to say to the fans of his alma mater.

"He is going up against some of the best coaches in basketball with Roy on one side and Coach K on the other," McMillan said. "They are just going to have to be patient with him, he knows the game he knows how to communicate and coach but it does take time."

Another former player giving an endorsement to Pack coach Sidney Lowe. The fact that coach after coach, and player after player continue to praise Lowe for his knowledge of the game can't be coincidence. Couple that with the fact that Lowe has really picked it up in the recruiting game and Pack fans should certainly feel confident in the direction of the program.

*Read the rest of the article here.

Cameron Bennerman Returns To Italy

According to Sportando.net, Cameron Bennerman will be suiting up the Rimini squad in Italy. After spending the better part of the past two seasons in Spain, Cam will be returning to the country where he played his first professional ball. In the 06-07 season Bennerman played for Junior Casale Monferrato in Italy and averaged 17.2 points in 35 games. I'm sure Italy will gladly welcome Cam back and maybe he can even take a couple of WolfpackHoops.com T-Shirts across the pond! We wish Cam the best of luck next season and look forward to tracking his success.

Josh Powell Interview With The Los Angeles Times

This interview is from right after the championship, and the Lakers have picked up his option since then. We thought you might enjoy these videos. Josh expresses how much the championship meant to him personally, considering all it took for him to get to this point. It also shows Josh's lighter side and sense of humor. Enjoy!

Horner In The News

Earlier this week the Charlotte Observer ran a small blurp on NC State Power Forward Dennis Horner:

"When he's not in the weight room at N.C. State this summer, senior Dennis Horner can often be found at the Hillborough YMCA, coaching first-, second- and third-graders.

“Once I'm done (with college), hopefully I can play basketball a while more,'' Horner said. “But I also hope to coach … and I like working with little kids – they're fun to be around, they're exciting – you get something new every day, and that's the thrill of it.”

CJ Leslie: HoopMixTape

Here is a highlight reel of C.J. Leslie from our friends at HoopMixTape. Support the amazing work that they do by subscribing to their YouTube channel.

The New AD At United Faith: Todd Fuller

We are very excited to inform you that former NC State All-American Todd Fuller is the new Athletic Director at United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is a great opportunity for Todd and the Wolfpack Nation should be excited for him. United Faith took the NCISSA 1-A State crown away from defending champ Word of God last season with a miracle three pointer at the buzzer. There were three Division 1 basketball players on that team. Shooting Guard Blake Smith was a Senior that just graduated and will be playing with Radford, who beat VMI to win the Big South Conference Championship and play in the NCAA tournament. United Faith will also be returning Shooting Guard Ian Miller who is a 4 star recruit that has committed to FSU and Power Forward Kadeem Green who holds numerous offers from Division 1 schools. It is excited to see Todd step into a place that has already been breeding quality talent. It is also good to know that the Athletic Director of one of the top Independent Schools in the state of North Carolina happens to be a Wolfpacker. Congratulations Todd!

Mychal Parker Highlights From the I-95 Elite Challenge

Harrow: Double "Double-Double"

NC State commit Ryan Harrow and the Atlanta Celtics might be running on fumes after a tiring weekend in Vegas, but that didn't stop them from cleaning up two wins today out in Phoenix. Ryan continued to show that he is a complete point guard today, dropping double-doubles in both games. He had 23 points and 10 assists in the first game and 18 points and 12 assists in the second.

Dezmine Wells "Dunks" Highlight Reel

Here is a pretty nasty reel from our friends over at One Entertainment. You can see why scouts are all over the 2011 prospect.

An Interview With Dezmine Wells

As stated yesterday, we had the opportunity to catch up with Dezmine Wells (Word of God) last week. Wells has been one of the names that has been buzzing quite a bit on the AAU circuit this summer. This summer Dezmine has had the chance to show everyone that his game is much more diverse than many may have thought. Last year at Word of God Dezmine was forced to spend more time down low rather than out on the wing. Playing with the CP3 All-Stars this summer Wells has had the opportunity to play at the guard slot, which he believes is his most natural position. Dezmine has flourished this summer with the ball in his hands attacking the basket and making plays.

WPH: We know that NC State has shown some interest in you over the past year. How much has that interest increased over the summer?

Wells: During the school season they weren’t showing me that much interest because of the way my coach played me down low. At the Adidas Take 5ive they saw a different player. They said they liked my style of play. They liked that I was a hard-nosed defender. Coach Lowe talked to my AAU coach and told him that they were offering me a scholarship. Coach Lowe called me and he told me that he was going to go about recruiting me the right way and that he was very interested in me and loved the way that I played.

WPH: Obviously there are other schools that are showing interest in you, but how much does it mean to you that a school right in your backyard is pushing hard for you?

Wells: It’s a big deal and I really appreciate it. I’m really thankful for everything that’s coming at me right now, and I’m just trying to take it all in.

WPH: We have had the chance to watch you play on numerous occasions and it is obvious that you have a strength advantage on most of your opponents that guard you. You look like a football player out there. Do you spend a lot of time in the gym?

Wells: I actually have never really lifted weights very much. My coaches are really encouraging me to get in the gym and that is something that I’m really going to do this year. Maybe I’m strong because I did a lot of push-ups growing up. My mom didn’t beat or spank me, she just made me do push-ups when I got into trouble. I guess you could say I did a lot of push-ups. I also played football (Quarterback) up until after my freshmen year. I definitely can use my athletic ability and strength to my advantage. I can play the 1, the 2 or the 3. I know that if I can get a guy on my side that it is over. I’m also strong enough to guard a guy in the post.

WPH: Who would you say that you pattern your game after?

Wells: I really love the way that both Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans play the game, so I guess you could say I pattern my game after those guys.

WPH: What can we expect from Word of God in the upcoming season?

Wells: I think we are going the have a really strong team. A lot is going to be expected of me at the guard position, and I’ll probably see time at all three positions out on the perimeter. I talked with C.J. Leslie earlier this week and we were talking about how we were excited and ready for the season to get here.

Thanks Dezmine!

Miller Keeps Championship Hopes Alive

**D-ONE lost last night in the championship game out in Vegas. Quincy Miller told us that he had 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Rising Junior Quincy Miller continues to put up big numbers out in Vegas. In the early game Miller had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks, which was followed by a 29 point, 7 rebound and 2 block performance in the matinee. Quincy and crew are heading to the championship game.

Too Much Magic For The Celtics Despite Harrow's Tremendous Effort

NC State commit Ryan Harrow and the Atlanta Celtics lost to the Memphis Magic this morning by the score of 89-78. Harrow told us that he had 25 points and 7 assists. It would be a crime if he didn't make the All-Tournament team, seeing as he averaged 26.5 points and 7 assists in 6 games out in the Adidas Super 64 Tournament.

The Celtics will have to pack quickly as they will be playing in Phoenix tomorrow. We just received word from Ryan that Luke Cothron will be unable to play due to injury.

Dezmine Wells On ESPNU at 7:30pm

NC State target Dezmine Wells is playing with his CP3 squad down in Orlando. We checked in with him yesterday and he told us that they were not playing well enough as a team to keep winning. They are currently 1-2 down in Florida and Dez is averaging 10 points a game. If you have ESPNU, you are in for a special treat tonight, as Wells' CP3 squad will be getting some national attention in a 7:30pm game.

We were able to do an interview with Wells last week and we will be running it in the morning, so make sure to check back in the AM.

Scott Wood Hoosier Reunion Game Highlights

It looks like Scott Wood's Uncle blessed YouTube with another great highlight reel of his nephew. Scott had 26 points and 9 assists.

Saturday In Vegas (Harrow Hits The Jackpot)

****The Atlanta Celtics just defeated Playaz Basketball Club Cold 98-88. You might say that NC State Commit Ryan Harrow had something to do with the victory, considering the fact that he just told us that he had 36 points and 8 assists. Ryan has carried the Celtics to the Elite 8 and they will play the Memphis Magic Elite tomorrow at 10:20am (1:20pm EST).

***Quincy Miller and the D-ONE crew have put it all together out in Vegas. Quincy just let us know that after flirting with a triple-double all week, he finally brought one home tonight with a line of 19 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks. D-ONE has won three straight games.

**Ryan Harrow just told us that Luke Cothron played well and scored 11 points.

The Atlanta Celtics continued to tear through the competition, winning their third straight game. Ryan Harrow told us that he had 21 points and 10 assists and they will be back in action at 6:45pm (9:45pm EST)

D-ONE continued to play good defense and reeled in another win. Quincy Miller told us he had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Backordered T-Shirts Now In-Stock and Ready to Ship

We sent out an email to (hopefully) everybody that ordered a shirt in the past 3 weeks to let them know that we totally ran out. However, we placed another order and just received it yesterday, meaning they will ship out on Monday. Sorry for the delay, but we did not expect them to go as fast as they have. Thank you for your patience and we hope you enjoy your shirts! We've gotten a lot of great feedback so far about the feel of the shirts and the overall design, so we've gotta give props to LikuidNation/PiNC for their work.

Quincy Miller Almost Lands A Triple-Double (UPDATE)

**FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Quincy, once again, did serious damage as he went for 25 points and 11 boards while leading his team to an 8 point victory. D-ONE, who had been struggling to put it together on defense, had their best defensive showing of the tournament in this one.

Last night Quincy Miller came close to a rare triple-double. In a game in which D-ONE lost by 12, Miller put up a silly line of 20 points, 9 rebounds and 9 blocks. Quincy and crew will be back in action at 4:15pm (7:15pm EST).

Harris and Strickland Checking Out Parker In Vegas

Mychal Parker began this summer playing his AAU ball with the Richmond Squires, but as of late he has been rolling with the Ohio Basketball Club squad. Parker is currently out in Vegas and his OBC team is 3-0 (They've won their past 13 games). We talked this morning with someone in the Parker camp and they told us that members of the NC State coaching staff have been at all of his games out in Vegas. Coach Harris was their on the first day and Coach Strickland checked him out yesterday. They believe that the staff is going to try to get Parker on campus some time in August.

While it is true that there is currently only one scholarship available for the 2010 class, and the staff seems set on scooping a big man, next April is a long way off and a lot can happen between now and then.

Update From Vegas (Game 3)

We just got word from Ryan Harrow that the Atlanta Celtics just defeated Pump N Run by 2 points. Ryan put up a line that many fans might have grown accustomed to seeing out of him, but it takes a certain type of player to put up 30 points and 8 assists against legitimate competition on a regular basis. I'm sure the Celtics can't complain with the late addition of Luke Cothron to their mix. Not only did Luke pour in 16 points, but he also had the block at the end of regulation that sealed the deal.

Quincy Miller Update From Vegas

Quincy Miller is a name that you better get used to hearing. This kid is the total package. Miller stands 6'8 and patterns his game after Kevin Durant. This consensus 5-star recruit is perched at the top of the NC State coaching staff's wish list for 2011. Last season Quincy averaged a double-double (13.4 points and 11.8 rebounds) as a Sophomore for Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, NC) helping guide them to a 26-7 record. He also led his squad with 2.9 blocks per game.

This Top-10 talent has been causing quite a stir on the AAU circuit this summer, playing ball with D-ONE. With Miller claiming a gaudy 100+ scholarship offers, you can better believe that Coach Harris is intently watching Quincy out in Vegas.

We talked with Quincy today and he told us that he had 17 points and 11 boards in D-ONE's first game in Vegas, which happened to be a 4 point loss. We'll try to continue to keep you updated on how Miller is doing out in Vegas.

Jerseys In The Rafters: Sammy Ranzino (1948-51)

Many NC State fans are well versed in the history of the University and it's basketball program. On the other hand, there are also a large number of fans that have never heard all the stories or know all the players who helped build the storied history of NC State. Throughout the off-season we will be highlighting each and every player that had a big enough impact to have their jersey hung in the rafters of the RBC Center. Previously we debuted "Jerseys In The Rafters" with Dick Dickey. Up next: Sammy Ranzino.

Much has been said about the historical pipeline that NC State has developed with the state of Indiana throughout the years. It all began when Indiana native Everett Case came down to Raleigh to coach the Pack. Case started the Indiana recruiting pipeline when he reeled in Dick Dickey in '47 and he solidified his ability to recruit his home-state when he snared Sammy Ranzino one year later.

Sammy Ranzino was 6-2 Forward out of Gary, Indiana. His career at NC State was one for the record books...literally. Ranzino's accolades place him at a table that only a few players in NC State basketball history are fit to sit at. Sammy is one of only 3 players in the history of Wolfpack Basketball to earn All-American honors 3 times (David Thompson and Dick Dickey). He did what even few great players have done, leading his team to four conference championships (Southern Conference) in four years. Sammy's Senior campaign caught the attention of nation, earning consensus All-American honors. The Rochester Royals were impressed with his 20.8 points per game that year and took him with the 8th overall pick in the 1951 NBA draft. Ranzino left NC State as the All-Time leading scorer with 1,967 career points, and this was a record that he would hold onto for 24 years, until David Thompson came along and put up 2,309 in a short three-year span. Ranzino currently ranks as the 4th All-Time leading scorer in Pack history. He was posthumously honored on February 22, 1999, when his jersey was raised to the rafters in what was a memorable night in Reynolds Coliseum.

Update From Vegas (Game 2)

The Celtics picked themselves up after a tough loss to Grassroots Canada, and walked out of the gym with a 9 point win at the 6pm (9pm EST) game. NC State commit Ryan Harrow went colossal with 27 points and 8 assists and Luke Cothron also added 8 points and 11 boards. While the Celtics next game of the tournament doesn't come until tomorrow at 3:45pm (6:45pm EST), they will be playing again tonight in a game that is completely separate from this tournament. Tonight at 9:30pm (12:30am EST) the Atlanta Celtics are taking on Nike Team Florida in the 2009 GBOA Challenge of Champions at Henderson International School.

Update From Vegas (Game 1)

We just got word from Ryan Harrow that the Atlanta Celtics lost to the Grassroots Canada team by 6 points. Harrow had 20 points in the loss and Luke Cothron had 14 points. He told me that he saw Coach Larry Harris out there watching the game. The Celtics will be up again at 6pm. We'll keep you posted.

Harrow and Cothron Prepare to Take on Vegas

In case you missed it, 2010 recruit Luke Cothron is teaming up with 2010 Wolfpack commit, Ryan Harrow and his Atlanta Celtics for a few tournaments including this week in Vegas. Wolfpack fans everywhere are hoping that this is simply a preview of whats to come in 2010, if Cothron were to decide to run with Sidney Lowe's Wolfpack. The 2010 class is already shaping up to be something special, as Harrow (a 5 star point guard) will be joining his God-brother Lorenzo Brown (4 star shooting guard). With one more scholarship available (numbers wise). With the guard positions looking solid for years to come, Lowe and company are looking to land a big man, and that is where Cothron comes in.

We've just received word from Vegas that Ryan, Luke and the Celtics will be taking the floor at 11:40am PT, to take on Grassroots Canada, a team littered with D-1 talent. Grassroots is led by 5 star stud recruit, Tristan Thompson (a Texas commit). We, at Wolfpack Hoops, have seen Grassroots play on a few occasions and they are surely one of the hottest AAU teams in the nation right now. Ryan, Luke and company will surely have their hands full, but with a healthy Harrow and the addition of Cothron, it's hard to see the Celtics being taken down by anyone.

We'll be providing updates throughout the next few days with scores and stats, so keep checking back for the most up to date Wolfpack recruit coverage on the web.

**We have confirmed that Coach Harris is going to be out in Vegas catching the games, while Coach Lowe will be down in Orlando checking out Tobias Harris, Damontre Harris and Dezmine Wells as well as others.

Sharing The Wealth: "Big Man Cothron Remains Big Target"

Yesterday the FayObserver ran an article on NC State target Luke Cothron. Here is an excerpt from the article:


"Class of 2010 big man Luke Cothron continues to be a top target for many of college basketball's biggest programs with N.C. State trying to keep itself in the mix. Cothron, rated 37th among rising seniors by Rivals.com, measures 6-foot-9 and weighs 210 pounds and has wowed college coaches with his sturdy build, long arms and overall versatility.

A tenacious rebounder when he wants to be, Cothron also has a nice shooting stroke from the outside. A year ago, the athletic forward moved from Alabama and transferred to Flora Macdonald Academy in Red Springs where he played last winter as a junior.

Cothron solidified himself as a top-tier recruit with a pair of stellar outings for the Cougars against Raleigh's Word of God Academy, which featured star point guard John Wall (the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2009) and C.J. Leslie, currently rated 13th in the 2010 class by Scout.

There is still, however, plenty at stake for Cothron this summer as he tries to answer questions about his hunger to compete year-round.

Cothron's list of suitors remains plenty long, Alabama figures to be high on the list as are Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Kansas and West Virginia.

Virginia Tech and Florida State are also on the radar.

N.C. State, meanwhile, may have a small secret weapon working in its favor if fellow 2010 recruit Ryan Harrow, one of Cothron's close friends and a Wolfpack commitment, can use his influence to steer Cothron towards Raleigh."

NC-Pro Am: Courtney Fells, Tracy Smith , CJ Leslie Highlights

Here is a video, courtesy of One Entertainment, that has a few highlights from past, present and future Wolfpackers. We have some of our own video but are currently having camera problems which we hope to have resolved in the near future.

Rodney Monroe Camp

If you live in the Huntersville or Gastonia area, and you have children that are interested in the game of basketball, then they have a great chance coming up to learn from one of the best. Rodney Monroe, NC State's All-Time leading scorer, will be hosting a camp in each town in early August. On August 3-7, Monroe will be hosting a camp at his home base, Lake Norman Christian School in Huntersville, North Carolina. Last year was Rodney's first year as the head middle school boy's basketball coach at Lake Norman. Children ages 6-9 will have camp in the morning (9am-Noon) and the older children (10-15) will have camp in the afternoon (1-4pm). The cost of the camp is $125 per child or $200 for two children. Click here to register.

Rodney will also be hosting a camp in the Gastonia area on August 12-14. The camp will be held at Gastonia Central YMCA on 615 West Franklin Boulevard. The camp will run from 9am-noon each day and be open to children ages 6 to 14. The first 50 children that register will get to go to camp free of charge. If you are interested call 704-865-8551.

The Summer League Comes To A Close

The NBA Summer League out in Vegas has come to a close, and 3 former NC State basketball players will now wait and see if they did enough to impress. Last night Brandon Costner finished out his week of play one point shy of double-digits. Brandon had 9 points (2-7 FG) and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes of action in a game in which Chicago beat Minnesota 93-85. In 3 games Costner averaged 11 points (42% FG, 39% 3FG and 73% FT).

Cedric Simmons finished the week shooting the ball well. Last night Ced City had 8 points (3-5 FG), 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Simmons played 18 minutes in the Nuggets 107-105 victory over the Hornets. In 5 games Simmons averaged 7 points (45% FG) and 7 boards.

Ben McCauley finished up earlier in the week, but I doubt many of the scouts forgot him. Ben was a model of consistent play, averaging 12 points (52% FG) and 8 rebounds, seeing action in all 5 games for the Lakers.

Each of these players will be waiting to find out where they will be playing basketball next. We will be looking into each players situation and hope to be able to provide you with information soon.

Also, many of you have been curious about what happened with Julius Hodge and the Chicago Bulls. We are trying our best to track down some answers for you.

Sharing The Wealth: "Mays Handling The Competition"

The Sun News ran an article in this morning's paper that featured NC State point guard Julius Mays. Here are some qoutes from the article:

"I went from playing most games to not playing six games, and that was motivation -- either I can sit back and watch Javi [Gonzalez] and Farnold [Degand] play, or I can get real competitive and prove to Coach [Sidney Lowe] that I'm the one that should be playing," he said.

To that end, Mays has stayed on campus this summer, taking classes and working on his quickness and strength by hitting the weight room and trying to run hills with an improved burst.

Lowe has said he wants his team to play at a faster pace this season and has been impressed by Mays during offseason workouts. "Julius is more of a leader; he's more in tune to the whole dynamic of playing that position," he said.

Mays said he thinks it will be key for the team to begin with a designated starter, rather than continuing with last year's "three-headed monster." "The guys playing alongside the point guard want to know what type of guard they're playing with. I think they're ready to have a guarantee of who they're going to be playing with the majority of the time, or who's going to be subbing in and getting some minutes here and there," he said. "... [The job] is going to be up for grabs, and we're all working hard to grab it."

Although he averaged just 4.7 points last season, Mays believes his biggest strength is putting points on the board: "I think I can score with the best of them." Especially considering the best of last year's crop of point guards are gone. "When I think about that, I'm like, 'I can either take advantage of this, or I can sit back and let someone else do it,' " he said. "And that's definitely something I don't want to do. That's why I've been working on my game constantly, because I want to stand out next year, I want to help turn the program around, I want to help get us back on a winning stage."

Costner and Simmons Post Summer Highs

Last night Brandon Costner erupted out in Vegas. In a game in which the Bulls beat the Knicks 90-84, Costner almost matched his scoring effort with his playing time. Brandon scored 21 points in 25 minutes of action. He couldn't miss, shooting 7-11 from the field and 3-5 from deep range. Today is the last day of the NBA Summer League out in Vegas, which means that this is Costner's last chance to show that he belongs. The Bulls play the Minnesota Timberwolves at 6pm today.

Cedric Simmons also had his best game of the summer last night. Ced has been struggling to get in an offensive groove all week long, but last night was a different story. Simmons ended up in double-digits for the first time, scoring 11 points on 4-7 shooting in a 94-90 victory over the D-League Select team. Ced City's Summer League finale will be tonight against the New Orleans Hornets at 8:30pm.

Subscribe to Wolfpack Hoops on YouTube

As you probably already know, we've been hosting our videos over at YouTube for sometime now and have accumulated a pretty good collection of footage from recruiting events and showcases. We will soon be uploading some footage from the NC Pro-AM including some old faces that you might recognize from seasons past.

We would like to ask everyone a favor. It will take no more than 5 minutes of your time and it would help us out a great deal with ad revenue and raising money to cover West Coast tournaments in the future. All you need to do is subscribe to our video channel. To do that, simply sign-up for a YouTube account (it's free), visit our YouTube page (click here) ...and then click "Subscribe" , which is the yellow button located at the top of the page.

Again, this is totally free and would not only help us out tremendously, but it would allow you to be updated immediately when we release a new video. Check them all out, as we also might be adding some unreleased footage in the near future from past events that won't be on the site.

Thank you!

Open Thread

Here is your chance to talk about whatever you like. What are your predictions for the upcoming season? Who do you think will lead the team in scoring? Rebounding? Assists? Who do you think will be the team MVP? Who will be the most improved player? What will be our strengths/weaknesses? What do you think the starting line-up will look like? I think I gave you enough to chew on. Have at it!

NBA Summer League Update (7/17/09)

Last night in a game where the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trailblazers 111-93, Cedric Simmons put up an even line of 8 points and 8 rebounds. The eight points marked a summer best for him and his 23 minutes of action were a high as well. While Ced has shown consistency in his game on the defensive side of the ball (7.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg) he has yet to find his rhythm on the offensive side. He is averaging 6.0 ppg while shooting 35.3% from the field and 54.5% from the line. Ced and the Nuggets play the NBA D-League Select team tonight at 10:30pm

The Chicago Bulls picked up their first win of the summer last night, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 80-74. While Brandon Costner didn't play in last nights game, expect him to see minutes tonight in a match-up against the Knicks at 6pm.

McCauley A Pleasant Surprise

While the Lakers might have lost their last game of the '09 Summer League last night, Ben McCauley left a lasting impression. Ben made the most of his time last night, posting a double-double in only 17 minutes of play. In a 77-92 loss to the Rockets, McCauley scored 11 points (3-12 FG) and grabbed 10 boards. Ben continued to be very aggressive on the boards, with half of his boards coming on the offensive end of the court. While he didn't have his best night shooting the ball last night, Ben posted solid numbers over the 5-game span that should spark the interest of some teams around the league. Over the 5 games he averaged 11.8 ppg (51.9% FG), 7.6 rpg (3.4 offensive rpg) in 23 minutes per game. It should also be noted that Ben started in 4 out of the 5 games as well. Ben represented the Pack well in the Summer League and we wish him the best of luck.

Cothron and Harrow Teaming Up in Vegas and Phoenix

2010 NC State Recruit, Luke Cothron, informed us two days ago that he was currently without a team for the Vegas tournament. The Super 64 Tournament is an Adidas event and Luke's Boo Williams AAU team is Nike sponsored. If you've been keeping up with our AAU summer coverage then you're already beginning to realize just how common it is for a player to join another team for any certain tournament.

Luke let us know that he has finally found his team for the Super 64 in Vegas. Luke will be running along side 2010 Wolfpack commit, and fellow 5 star recruit, Ryan Harrow and his Atalanta Celtics.

Cothron is the only other 2010 player, aside from CJ Leslie, that we can confirm as having an official offer from the staff. This means that the fact that he has chosen to run with Harrow and the Celtics can only help the Wolfpack's chances of landing big Luke. Ryan Harrow has quite the reputation for letting other players know why they too should choose NC State, and he's been in Luke Cothron's ear all summer long.

Luke also let us know that know that he will be joining the Celtics in Pheonix for another tournament in the near future. These two tournaments will both be perfect opprotunities for the Wolfpack staff to further evaluate Luke and get to see the 1-2 punch he and Harrow can produce while on the floor together. Something Pack fans certainly hope to see in 2010.

Off-Season Update: Johnny Thomas Interview

If the Wolfpack is going to be successful in 2009-2010, there will need to be a few questions answered. One of which being "Who will fill the 3 spot?" With the departure of Brandon Costner, and CJ Williams moving to what looks like a full time SG role, Sidney Lowe will likely look to Johnny Thomas, who's knee injuries kept him sidelined his entire first, and a majority of his second season with the Wolfpack. However, after an off-season of intense rehabbing, he is ready to show Wolfpack Nation just what a healthy Johnny Thomas is capable of. We caught up with Johnny to see exactly what he's been doing this off-season to prepare for the coming season.

WPH: Johnny, could you tell us a little bit about yourself off the court?

JT: "I like drawing and architectural design a lot. I pretty much like to relaxing when I get the chance. I like drawing buildings and stuff like that. I'm going to graduate next summer, a year early, so I'll have 2 years to do other stuff and I probably will get into architecture."

WPH: That's really cool... best of luck with that. Now, let's talk a little about these past few years. I think it's fair to say they've been pretty tough for you with the constant knee injuries and not being able to play. Can you talk about that a little bit?

JT: "Well, it's something that happened at a young age while playing football (Johnny was a QB in high school), so I stopped playing football. I then ended up playing basketball more seriously in the 10th grade, and I got into AAU in the 11th grade. That's when I met Freddy Johnson and I got to know him, and I liked Greensboro Day, so I decided to go and play there. While there my knee was fine, and I wasn't having any trouble with it. Then when I got here I was playing pick-up September 1st in 2007, and I tweaked my knee and it ended up being messed up pretty bad. I had to have surgery to remove a piece that was chipped off and that put me out for a year. It was aggravating, not being able to help the team, but I got used to being patient. It's taught me a lot though. It showed me when to rest an injury and how that is important."

WPH: So you didn't start playing basketball seriously until you were in 10th grade?

JT: "Yeah, I just messed around a lot when I was younger but I just never really thought I'd do anything with it. Then when I got hurt I started to take it more seriously. When I was 14 I played on my brothers team , which was a 19 year old team, and I did really good so that's when people started noticing me."

WPH: So explain your situation with your knee coming into this season. Is it healed, are you good to go?

JT: "Yeah I feel like last year was me getting out there and getting a feel of it. It was hard at first last year going full speed because I had sat out a full season. It was just that my body had to relearn how to do things I used to do, and as that happened I started to feel good and now that that's happened I think I'm going to be great this year and I'm really looking forward to playing."

WPH: It's really looking like, and even Coach mentioned, you and Scott Wood are going to be putting in major minutes this season. How do you feel about stepping into to that type of big time role?

JT: "That definitely what I'm going for. Every player wants to play big minutes, but I'm trying to make a huge impact...I'm trying to start. "

WPH: Is there anything you have to do after practices or games as far as icing your knees or rehabbing?

JT: "There's really nothing I HAVE to do, but it is something that I do. I'm just am so used to it and I do it more as a precaution."

WPH: So with a healthy knee, I'm guessing we can expect a lot more highlight reel dunks. Speaking of dunking, what is your vertical and what is the first time you ever dunked?

JT: "I have a 44 inch vertical right now. I could always dunk...I mean, in middle school I could dunk tennis balls and volleyballs, but my sophomore year I got a lot more confidence and was just trying to dunking everything.

WPH: Do you see a difference in this years team than last years team?

JT: Yeah, oh yeah. This years team is always in the weight room, always a working out. There's always someone in the gym or lifting weights. Previous years we'd prepare but it was more just mandatory stuff, but now everyone is taking their own time and developing their individual game. We're all trying to play pick-up together so we can be close as a team before we take the floor for a game. Like, I was talking to Dennis and saying, us being upperclassmen this is our team and we dictate what goes on. It's up to us to set an example and show the younger guys how its' supposed to be.

WPH: What are some of the main things you are working on this off-season?

JT: "Well, I'm pretty athletic so that in itself puts me ahead of a lot of people. Just my ball handling and shooting. People will be saying "Oh he's not a wing" and all that, so I've been working hard on my ball handling and shooting so when I play next year, I see it as, every shot your teammate gets you is a shot you need to make so I work hard in the off season to give myself the best possible chance to make that shot. I'm just taking this time now to focus on what will happen in the games and try to recreate it in practice so I'll be ready."

WPH: Can you talk about some drills you're doing?

JT: Yeah, I do a lot of up and down dribbling, fast motion dribbling. Sprint, crossover, behind the back, at full speed so my handles will be sharper and faster than they were. I've noticed that my handles have gotten a lot better. My shot too. I used to elevate too high or not lift my elbow, but now I have it down to perfection and have it down to the same motion...it feels a lot better to me.

WPH: A lot of people don't know this, but aside from putting in a lot of time on the court, you also put in a great deal of time into your school work. In fact, you were named 2009 Academic All-ACC. How can you balance both and still be successful?

JT: "For me it wasn't as hard. I came from a school that had good academics, so coming in I kind of over exaggerated the fact, and I didn't want to underestimate it. Then I got hurt and it motivated me to really step up and work harder in school. To me, school isn't really hard if you put the work in and stay on top of things. "

WPH: Lastly, what are your goals for this years team?

JT: "Basically I want to win every game. We are a young team and a lot of people see us as the underdogs, but I think we'll be able to compete with Carolina, we'll be able to compete with Duke, or any team in the ACC. I really have no fears about who we play or where we play them. We're more focused as a unit. It's not just a focus on one guy, and we're all together now. I think there's going to be more chemistry."

NBA Summer League Update (7/15/09)

The Bulls had the early game yesterday against the Bucks. After losing in their summer opener two nights ago, they ran into a Bucks team that entered the night with a 3-0 record. Brandon Costner never quite got going last night, shooting 1-6 from the field, for a total of 3 points in 14 minutes of play. The Bulls lost to the Bucks 72-87 and they will play again Friday night against the Thunder at 8:30pm.

Last night Cedric Simmons didn't necessarily splatter the box score with points, but he did leave an impression on the defensive side of the ball. Cedric had 9 rebounds and 2 blocks to go along with his 4 points (1-4 FG) in 20 minutes of play. The Nuggets picked up their first win of the summer, defeating the Wizards 77-70. Ced City will be back in action on Friday night against the Trailblazers at 10pm.

NBA Summer League Update (7/14/09)

Last night 2 NC State alum saw action in the NBA Summer League. For starters, Ben McCauley continued to see significant playing time, as the Lakers beat the Thunder 74-68. In 21 minutes of play, Big Ben had 8 points (4-10 FG), 4 rebounds (3 offensive) and 4 steals. Through 4 games Ben is averaging 12 points and 7 boards in 25 minutes per contest, while shooting 60% from the field. One of the most impressive things to note about his performance thus far has been his tenacity on the offensive glass, averaging 3 offensive boards a game. Ben will be back in action tomorrow night when the Lakers take on the Rockets at 6pm.

Cedric Simmons also saw the court last night, in a game in which his Denver Nuggets lost in a close contest to the San Antonio spurs 76-78. Ced City put up 6 points (2-6 FG) and 6 rebounds in 14 minutes of play. The Nuggets play again tonight against the Wizards at 10:30pm.

Last night Brandon Costner didn't play in the Chicago Bulls 83-95 loss to the Warriors, and 4 other players received DNP's as well. It looks like the Bulls are taking the same approach that the Orlando Magic did in their summer league last week, where a group of players would see significant minutes one game and then rest the next, to give another group significant time. We also exchanged a few texts with Brandon and he told us that Julius Hodge didn't travel out to Vegas with the team. He said that he wasn't sure if they cut him or if he left the team. We'll try to find out more details on Julius. The Bulls play again tonight against the Bucks at 6pm.

July 15th, 2009.

Luke Cothron Update

We caught up with 2010 recruit Luke Cothron last night and got an update on his summer since we last spoke with him at Pangos. We hadn't heard much from him recently and we found out why...

"I haven't been playing the past few tournaments because of my knees. They've just been sore, but I'm feeling real good now. I just wanted to make sure I was rested up for Vegas."

With Vegas looming, many recruits take a week off to regroup their bodies and get ready to get serious. It's one of the first and one of the biggest events that college coaches will be attending, now that the July evaluation period is underway. This will give Coach Lowe another chance to watch Cothron, who reportedly already holds a committable offer from the Pack. However, there is one problem. Luke doesn't have a team to run with.

"I'm not actually sure who I'm playing with yet. My usual team won't be going out there so I'm trying to see whats up."

Although not every team goes out to Vegas, it is rare that an elite player misses a tournament this big during an evaluation period. That includes Luke, who is making sure he's healthy and ready to be evaluated by the droves of coaches that will be flooding the gym to see him play.

So, what's the latest in Luke's recruitment? "Nothings really changed." said Cothron. And when asked if he's thinking about trimming his list anytime soon;

"I don't really have a set date for trimming my list. I'm just going to see how it goes, but I will say this, NC State will be in my top five when I do trim it. You can quote me on that."

July 15th, 2009

Crawford Raising A New Flag

According to EuroBasket.com, former Pack guard Clifford Crawford, who is 28 years old, will be switching teams. Last year Cliff played in Germany with the Kirchheim Knights in the ProA league. Crawford tallied 14.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. Next Season he will be joining up with the Levice team in Slovakia.


We spoke with Jamie Knox, who represents Crawford, had this to say about the transition:

"It's just an opportunity for him to show what he can do in a different market. Cliff has enjoyed a successful run in the very competitive German market and we feel like it was time to try something outside of Germany. His size, strength and overall playmaking ability makes him a hot commodity, and now he gets to show those attributes in another highly competitive market."

Cliff will join the team in August for tryouts before signing.

McMillan Practices What He Preaches

There hasn't been a hotter name in coaching than former NC State guard Nate McMillan these past few years. After helping rebuild the Seattle SuperSonics, McMillan moved on to Portland, where he did the same, leading them to a 54-28 season and becoming a savior to a city starved for NBA success.

With his contract set to run out after the 2009-2010 season, McMillan had to start thinking about how to play his next move. Stick with the team that you've built up from the bottom, or start seeing what else is out there? It isn't as if McMillan wouldn't have options. Any team would love to bring on a coach with a track record like his, and players around the league are starting to take notice.

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant recently told Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski that if Phil Jackson does not return to the Lakers, he'd lobby for either Jeff Van Gundy or Nate McMillan. This prompted the Blazers to move fast and pick up Nate's one year extension, locking him up through the 2010-2011 season.

After that season, McMillan would be free to negotiate, free to sign a long term, big money deal. However, Nate McMillan preaches staying hungry, and earning your paycheck to his Portland players, which is why after his contract his up, he will only be signing one-year contracts, one at a time.

"I think that's the way it should go," said McMillan, who has been in Portland since 2005. "It might be crazy ... I know my agent thinks I'm crazy. But I think it should be based on your performance. I don't think there is another coach who would say that, and I say that because everybody talks about security. For me, security is knowing you want me to be here, and that I'm doing what I need to do. Not you wondering, 'Why is he here?' Or, 'How are we going to get out of this?' "

The NBA has long been known as a "players league." This meaning that it doesn't matter who your coach is, as long as you have the talented players. This may be the case a majority of the time; however, I think if you look a little closer there are a few coaches out there who really make a difference. Nate McMillan is one of those difference makers, and it's his bold statements and the respect he earns by practicing what he preaches that have NBA superstars lobbying for his services.

McCauley Stays Steady

Big Ben continued to shoot the ball well tonight in a game where the Lakers fell to the Clippers 93-82. The only thing that kept McCauley from finishing in double digits for the third straight game was the fact that he got into foul trouble. Ben picked up as many fouls as he had field goal attempts. He scored 6 points, shooting 3-5 from the field in 21 minutes of play.

Tomorrow night will be a big night for a handful of Pack alum in the NBA Summer League. Julius Hodge and Brandon Costner will get the Bulls summer season started off against the Warriors at 8pm. Ben McCauley and the Lakers will be looking to pick up their third win of the summer session as they face off against Oklahoma City at 8:30pm. Finally, Cedric Simmons and the Denver Nuggets will get the late game against the Spurs at 10pm.

Harrow Resting Up for Vegas

The Atlanta Celtics headed down to Miami on Sunday for the Breakdown Hoops Festival; however, they will be playing without their point guard, 2010 NC State commit, Ryan Harrow. Harrow had been out for 2 weeks at the end of June with stress fractures in his feet. He rejoined his team last week playing well, and more importantly without any pain.

After a full week of constant competition, coming on the heels of a two week layoff, Harrow and his coach have decided a few days of rest would beneficial going into the big show in Vegas.

Ryan let us know that he is feeling healthy, but felt as if it was smart for him to let his body and his feet rest for the tournament in Vegas, where he will certainly be relied upon as the Celtics face some of the best competition in the nation.

Off-Season Update: An Interview with Dennis Horner

Last Thursday we had the chance to catch up with NC State Senior Dennis Horner. Last year Dennis posted career highs in minutes (18.9), points (6.4), rebounds (2.8), assists (1.2) and assist/turnover ratio (2.0). Here's how our conversation went with one of the Pack's most improved players last season:

WPH: Dennis, you showed drastic improvement in your shooting percentage last season in pretty much every category. What do you attribute that to?

Horner:I think I was more comfortable in the offense. Coach Lowe also had a little more faith in me to go out and play better and that gave me a lot of confidence.

WPH: A little known fact that many might not know, is that you led the team in assist/turnover ratio last season. It's pretty rare for a big man to lead in that category. Is that something you pride yourself in?

Horner: Yeah. Coach is always preaching to play the game the right way. To make the smart play, the easy play.

WPH: Tell us a little bit about how you ended up at NC State.

Horner: I was playing on an AAU team in New Jersey that wasn't widely known and we played against Wayne Ellington and Gerald Henderson's team and I had a big game. That is when my recruitment really picked up. I was being recruited real hard by West Virginia, Notre Dame and NC State. After I committed to NC State and Coach Sendek left, I decided that I had already been through the recruiting process once and I didn't want to go through it again.

WPH: What are your expectations for next season? Have any of the incoming Freshmen really impressed you?

Horner: My expectations are for us to play very well because we have kids in here that want to work. They're gym rats. Also, Deshawn and Richard are going to play a lot this year. When Tracy and I come out, we're not really going to loose a step.

WPH: How do you see yourself stepping up as a leader this year as a Senior?

Horner: I think I will be a vocal leader and a guy who leads by example. If the young guys see you working out, it makes them want to work hard. I've been setting up team meetings making sure that everyone is on the same page. I help get the guys together to play pick-up.

WPH: What are the main things that you are working on this off-season?

Horner: I've been working on my ball handling and getting bigger. I've also been working on my post moves and my face up moves in the post.

Thanks Dennis!

Thompson Tops SI's Thrill List

Recently Sports Illustrated put out a Thrill List that ranked the Top-10 players in the history of college basketball who were the all-time bests at "quickening the pulse and evoking a visceral response from those fortunate enough to have witnessed their artistry." David Thompson, the legendary Pack alum, tops the list that includes Bob Cousy, Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich and Michael Jordan.

Here is what SI had to say about the high flying David Thompson:


"David Thompson, NC State The North Carolina State forward popularized the term vertical leap by using breathtaking ups to convert alley-oop passes. It wouldn't have been quite as thrilling if he hadn't played during (dunk) prohibition; as with so many of life's pleasures, it's often worth leaving a little something to the imagination."

Lorenzo Brown To Play at Hargrave in 2009

We have confirmed that 2009 NC State commit and no. 28 ranked player in the class, Lorenzo Brown, did not qualify academically and will not be attending NC State University next season. He will instead enroll at Hargrave Military Academy, a prep school in Chatham, Virginia. Due to privacy concerns we have been asked to not get into further detail about his academic situation, however, we were assured that Lorenzo is still set on running with the Wolfpack. He will now be re-classified in the class of 2010, joining five star point guard, his god-brother, Ryan Harrow.

So what does this mean? What it means is that the backcourt rotation just got a little thinner. Brown was not expected to start right off the bat for the Pack, but would have certainly played a big role off the bench. This turn of events has put more weight on the shoulders of sophomores CJ Williams and Julius Mays, who will both be looked upon to handle the ball more and score. CJ is off to a nice start this summer in the prestigious PRO-Am League, as he's dropped 24, 10, and 15 in his first three games. This will also cause Coach Lowe to get creative with his line-ups. Farnold Degand could very well see more time at the "2" behind CJ Williams. It will also, most likely, cause Williams to strictly play the "2 guard" position and not slide over to small forward as much, putting more pressure on Scott Wood and Johnny Thomas to produce out of that position.

While it will certainly hurt the Wolfpack in 2009, Brown will now have one more year of prep play under his belt, an extra year to improve and mature, and likely 4 years to team up with Harrow instead of 3.

McCauley Continues To Cash-In In Vegas

Former Pack star Ben McCauley continued to make his case for a spot on an NBA roster by putting up a solid performance for the second straight night. Ben is owning the post so far out in Vegas. Tonight in an 88-82 Laker victory over the Cavs, McCauley scored 10 points and ripped down 7 boards in 25 minutes of play. Ben couldn't miss tonight, going 5-6 from the field. Over the past two games Ben is shooting 68% from the field. Ben and the Lakers will be back in business on Monday night against the Clippers at 8:30pm.

Harrow Setting The Peach State Ablaze

Ryan Harrow's performance thus far in the Peach State has been nothing short of amazing. After going for 34 and 8 in Game 1 and 28 and 10 in Game 2, he decided to up the ante with a line of 36 and 10 in Game 3. This point guard is on fire and his Celtics are 3-0 after winning 85-79 in the 12:30 game.

Fells Finishes Strong

After having a rough week in the Orlando NBA Summer League, Courtney Fells finished with a strong outing in a loss against the Indiana Pacers yesterday. Check out this quote from OrlandoMagic.com:

"For the Magic, it was Courtney Fells providing the unlikely early spark. Having missed his first nine shots of the week, Fells connected on three buckets in the first quarter, scoring all eight of his points in the first frame."

Jamie Knox, Courtneys agent, told us awhile back that there was a possibility that he was going to be playing in the Las Vegas as well. We'll check in with Jamie and see what the deal is.

McCauley Makes A Statement

Last night Ben McCauley made his presence known in the opening day of the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. Ben's line of 24 points and 15 rebounds might have caused Phil Jackson along with many other coaches around the league to turn their heads. He played 32 minutes in the Lakers 85-84 victory over the Toronto Raptors and even hit a late 22 foot jumper to seal the victory. McCauley finished his career with one of the best Field Goal % in NC State history and was known as the go-to guy in the post for the Pack. Last night he lived up to the reputation as he went a remarkable 12-19 from the field. Ben was also a monster on the offensive boards, ripping down 5 of his 15 boards on the offensive side of the ball. There was never a question about the heart and the hustle that Big Ben brought to the floor every time he stepped on it. State fans noticed it, and respected him for it. Now, Laker fans and coaches are starting to notice, which is always a good thing when you're trying to make it in the NBA. The Lakers will be back in action tonight at 6pm versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ryan Harrow Goes Bonkers at Peach State (GAME 2 UPDATE)

****Last night in the 9 o'clock game Ryan continued the insanity. In a game where Team Atlanta won 80-69, Ryan went for 28 and 10. The Celtics play their third game of the tournament today at 12:30. Our apologies that the update is coming a little late.

I guess you could say Ryan Harrow is healthy again. Playing with Team Atlanta, Harrow absolutely lit up his competition by pouring in 35 points and dishing out 7 assists in route to a 3 point victory. Many questioned whether Ryan had rushed back from the foot injuries that kept him out for 2 weeks, but it looks as if those questions have now been answered. Team Atlanta will take the floor again tonight at 9. We'll keep you updated, so make sure you check back after the game.

J.J. Hickson Getting The Rookie Hazing

Budding Big Man on Pack's Radar

We have reported in the past that the coaching staff seems pretty set on landing a 'big' to accompany point guard Ryan Harrow in the 2010 recruiting class. C.J. Leslie and Luke Cothron are the two big fellas that currently hold offers from the Pack. Although these two might be the top priority, don't think that the coaching staff won't be evaluating all of the talented post players on the market during this July evaluation period. One such player is Damontre Harris out of Trinity Christian School down in Fayettville. We have heard from a reliable source that NC State will be giving Harris a good look this month.

Damontre is a 6'9 Center, weighing in at 205 pounds. Scout ranks him as the #8 Center in the class and ESPN lists him at #11. Harris is a Top 100 player according to both Scout and Rivals, with Scout ranking him at 83rd and Rivals ranking him 65th. Last season he averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds on a balanced Trinity Christian team. While he definitely needs to add a little mass to his frame, he is extremely athletic for his height and moves like a Small Forward. He has a 7'1 (some report 7'3) wingspan, and he uses it to his advantage. Harris is a ferocious shot-blocker and possesses the ability to easily shoot over his opponent. He has good range on his jump shot and has a soft touch around the basket. He will have to continue to work on not rushing his shots, his decision making and his post move arsenal. With all that being said, most think that Deamontre hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential. For instance, look at what Dave Telep had to say to the FayObserver concerning Harris last week:

"Among the players Telep finds himself loving more and more as time goes on is Damontre Harris, an on-the-rise Class of 2010 forward from Trinity Christian Academy who's currently ranked as Scout's No. 65 rising senior nationally.

Telep raves about Harris' athleticism and selflessness. With a 7-foot-1 wingspan and explosive leaping ability, Harris has a headstart on becoming a difference maker at the next level.

Perhaps most intriguing aspect about Harris has been his long-term potential, with many recruiting analysts believing he is just now beginning to realize how good he can be."

SLAM also had this to say about Harris after the recent NBA camp:

"Damontre Harris, 6-9 rising senior post, Trinity Christian (NC): Harris may have been the absolutely least-heralded kid in the building (NBA Camp), but the rail-thin prospect more than held his own. A very intriguing player, Harris isn’t in the least bit physical, but his length and athleticism allows him to finish plays on offense, be a defensive presence and hit the boards, while his excellent shooting touch (and range) and agility gave defenders fits."

Trinity Christian's coach Heath Vandevender spoke with the FayObserver as well and confirmed that Harris is looking to trim his list on August 2nd:

"A recent report on Rivals.com indicated that Harris and Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender have set a deadline of Aug. 2 for schools interested in the star recruit to offer a scholarship.

That, Vandevender told Rivals, will allow Harris to gauge all the interest coming his way and narrow his list down to five finalists, schools he will then take official visits to in the fall."

Schools that have extended scholarship offers include Boston College, Georgia, USC, UNC-Wilmington, Virginia Commonwealth, Xavier, Winthrop, Maryland, Auburn, Wake Forest and UCONN.

We will keep you updated with anything that comes up concerning the Pack's recruitment of Damontre.

Pro-Am Tidbits

We were unable to make it out to the Pro-Am last night, but their blog revealed that a couple of NC State players helped carry their teams last night. Marcus Melvin's Lucky 7 squad entered the night with a untarnished record of 1-0. Unfortunately their opponnet was Team Duhon, who entered the night with a 2-0 record. Despite Marcus Melvin's 13 points, Team Duhon added another 'W' to the win column. Duke's Mason Plumlee's 17 points led Team Duhon to a 68-58 victory.

In the 8pm game Team P.J. Tucker came out searching for their first win. C.J. Williams put up a strong performance of 15 points, which marks the third time in three games that he has scored 10+ points. Unfortunately UNC's Ed Davis was too much for Team P.J. Tucker to handle. He scored 18 points, to lead all scorers, and WR Starkey left Team P.J. Tucker with an 0-3 record.

July 10, 2009.

Thursday Night At The Pro-Am (7/9/09)

If you get a chance tonight, you should run out to the NC Pro-Am League at NCCU. It is absolutely free and it is an enjoyable environment to watch some quality basketball. Here is the schedule for tonight:

6 pm Navy vs KG

Team Navy

Shammond Williams-UNC/Pro
Andre McCullon
Anthony Grundy - NC State/Pro
David Wear - UNC
James Tucker
Jawad Williams – UNC/Pro Clev
Lattrell Royster – Hillside HS
Lenny Daniels – Cal State
Lester Lipford
Miykael Faulcon – Hillside HS
Travis Wear - UNC
William Graves - UNC
Reserve: Charles Ward
Reserve: Hassan Smith
Reserve: Michael Beasley

Team KG

Casey Shannon
Charles Futrell
Damien Humphrey
Deearnest McLemon
James Zimmerman
Jeremy Harn
Joshua Houston
Leon Fraizer
Michael Graves
Pat Walton
Peter Daaleman
Peter Rozzell
Rashawn Page
Tracy Smith

7 pm Lucky 7 vs Team Duhon

Team Lucky 7

Josh Powell – NC State/Pro LA
Anthony Kent
Courtney Fells – NC State
Dennis Horner
Jameson Curry – OSU/Pro
Jeremy Wise
Johnny Thomas
Jordan Collins
Ken Tutt
Marcus Hodges
Marcus Melvin – NC State/Pro

Team Duhon

Chris Duhon – Duke/Pro NY
Hayward Fain –St. Augustine
JJ Miller – NCA&T/Pro
Jon Scheyer – Duke
Mason Plumlee – Duke
Matt Sossamon – Catawba
Michko Ndaiye – Pro
Rashad West – Pro
Rasheed Caraway
Rasheed Wright
Raymond Dunn – VGCC
Reginald McIlwain – Liberty
Reserve: Anthony Greenup
Reserve: Charles Ward
Reserve: Sean Dockery

8 pm WR Starkey vs Team PJ Tucker

Team WR Starkey

Jerry Stackhouse- UNC/Pro
Bo Ingram – SPJC
CJ Leslie – Word of God HS
Ed Davis - UNC
J’mell Walters – NCCU Alum
Lance Thomas - Duke
Leon Morgan-Pembroke Alum
Reggie Bullock – Kinston HS
Ryan Kelly – Duke
Seth Curry - Duke
Taron Downey – WForest/Pro
Victor Holloway – SPJC
Reserve:Donald Williams
Reserve:Jalen Jones-KinstonHS
Reserve:Josh Dawson-KHS

Team PJ Tucker

PJ Tucker - U of TX/Pro
Bryan Ayala – Chavis Prep
CJ Williams – NC State
Jarrett Johnson – Anderson U
Jordan Lawson –Durham Acad
Joshua Worthy – NCCU
Julius Mays – NC State
Kelly Marsh
Mike Bell – NC State/Pro
Mohammed Jaber
Monroe Faulkner – Person HS
Tyree Graham - Villanova
Reserve: Marcus Gaines

9 pm Dreamworks vs E-Net

Team Dreamworks

Sean May – UNC/Pro Charlotte
Deshawn Wilcox – Broughton
Dexter Strickland - UNC
Flip Murray – Shaw/Pro Atl
Gabe Smith – Livingstone
Isaac Smith – Smith School
Jackie Manuel – UNC/Pro
James Crowder – Pfeiffer U
John Henson - UNC
Justin Watts – UNC
Leslie McDonald – UNC
Marvin Williams –UNC/Pro Atl
Melvin Scott – UNC Alum

Team E-Net

Kyle Singler – Duke
Miles Plumlee - Duke
Chris Mayshack - NCCU
Darnell Matthews–Kinston HS
Dashawn Stabler – Garner HS
Drew Johnson – NCCU
Farnold Degan – NC State
John Kindred – Denmark Tech
KJ Holmes – NC State
Lamont Middleton-Denmark Tech
Mario Sanko – Denmark Tech
Marquez Jones – Kinston HS
Mister Height – Kinston HS
Tracy Smith – NC State
Reserve: Alonzo Williams
Reserve: Bobby Morrison
Reserve: Rod Williams - MCCC
Reserve:Dominic ParkerLMCC

McLendon-McDougald Gym
North Carolina Central University
1801 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC

Gilchrist Mentions NC State As A School He Will Consider

Mike Gilchrist is the #1 overall player in the class of 2011. This Small Forward out of St. Patrick High School in New Jersey has been turning heads since he was 13 years old. While many have assumed that Gilchrist was a done deal for Kentucky, he informed KentuckySports.com that he is open to all of his options:

"I'm not a done deal for Kentucky," he said after playing in the Nike-sponsored King City Classic on Wednesday. "I'm still open to all my options, so I'm not a done deal."

Gilchrist mentioned several schools he's willing to consider: Villanova, Louisiana, Memphis, Syracuse, Indiana. "Who else?" he thought aloud. North Carolina. North Carolina State. "Many," he said.

While the probability might be high that Gilchrist ends up at Kentucky, it is interesting to hear the young man emphasize his openness in the recruiting process. It is especially interesting to hear him spout off 7 schools on the fly, with NC State being one of the honored names.

NC State To Play In Glenn Wilkes Classic

As many of you might already know, NC State will be playing in the Glenn Wilkes Classic on November 20-22. This is the third year of the GWC and it will be held in the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, which happens to be the biggest venue to date. Prior to the three-day event down in Daytona Beach each team will play a on-campus game which will act as the first round of the Classic.

The Pack's first game against Georgia State will definitely not be their toughest draw of the Classic. Georgia State finished with an overall record of 12-20 last season, and finished 8th in the CAA with an 8-10 conference record. The Panthers do return their 2 leading scorers Joe Dukes (12.8) and Trae Goldston (10.8).

On Friday, November 20th, the Pack will play their first game in the Ocean Center against Akron at 3:30pm. Last season Akron finished the season with an overall record of 23-13. Akron entered the MAC conference tournament as the #5 seed, but they walked away with the conference championship and the automatic NCAA tournament bid after defeating Buffalo 65-53 in the conference championship game. Brett McNight, the Zips leading scorer from last season, returns after a solid sophomore campaign, averaging 11.2ppg.

The Wolfpack will turn around and play Austin Peay on Saturday night at 8:15. Austin Peay finished the season with a 19-14 record and rising senior Wes Channels will be a force this season, after averaging 16.5ppg as a junior.

NC State vs. Auburn will be the headline game of the Classic on Sunday night at 8:15pm. The Tigers are a team on the rise. After a 20+ win season last year (24-12), a solid showing in the NIT and a decent recruiting class, the Auburn Tigers are looking to make some noise.

All games will be played at the Ocean Center, situated on Atlantic Avenue across the street from the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. The Hilton sits right on the “World’s Most Famous Beach” and serves as the tournament host hotel. Tickets for the event are $25.00 per day or $60.00 for an all-tournament pass (plus applicable fees). To purchase tickets please callTicketMaster at 407-839-3900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

For further information on tickets call the Ocean Center box office at 386-254-4545. For further information on the Glenn Wilkes Classic please contact the tournament organizer Sport Tours International at 414-228-7337 or visit www.glennwilkesclassic.com.


FIRST ROUND (Campus Sites)
Date-TBA
Georgia State @ NC State

Friday, Nov. 13
Niagara @ Auburn

Saturday, Nov. 14
IUPUI @ Drake

Tuesday, Nov. 17
Austin Peay @ Akron

Wednesday, Nov. 18
Howard @ UCF

Friday, Nov. 20 (Ocean Center)
11 am Howard v Niagara
1:15 pm Georgia State v Drake
3:30 pm Akron v NC State
6:00 pm Auburn v UCF
8:15 pm IUPUI v Austin Peay

Saturday, Nov. 21 (Ocean Center)
11 am Georgia State v Howard
1:15 pm Drake v Akron
3:30 pm Niagara v UCF
6:00 pm Auburn v IUPUI
8:15 pm NC State v Austin Peay

Sunday, Nov. 22 (Ocean Center)
11 am Akron v Howard
1:15 pm IUPUI v Georgia State
3:30 pm UCF v Drake
6:00 pm Austin Peay v Niagara
8:15 pm NC State v Auburn

This is a great opportunity for this young team to come together and gain some confidence and experience in a hurry.