The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK The Wolfpacker staff has enjoyed spending time with various guests on its podcast every Tuesday around 12:30 p.m. at Amedeo's Italian Restaurant in Raleigh. The podcast is always available to listen to on TheWolf- packer.com, iTunes and most everywhere else podcasts can be downloaded. Here are some excerpts from recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw of Phenom Hoop Report, who was a guest Nov. 6: Who does NC State senior point guard signee Jalen Lecque of Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy com - pare to athletically? "Athletically, a good comparison to me is Hamidou Di- allo, the second-round draft pick of Oklahoma City [out of Kentucky] this past year. Both are New York natives. "I don't think you are going to find many people who are as athletic as Jalen Lecque. Granted, Diallo and Lecque are different positions with Diallo a 6-4 shoot- ing guard and Lecque a point guard. If Lecque does go to college, I think [NC State coach] Kevin Keatts' system at NC State is the absolutely perfect fit for him, with it being heavy on ball screens. I think Lecque is best making reads out of the ball screen, going downhill and pulling up for the jump shot or distributing the ball. "For him to maximize what he's able to do, I think picking NC State and Kevin Keatts was the absolute perfect pick. He's a special player, and he made the right decision in college." What do you make of the talk about Lecque and the 2019 NBA Draft, which he is eligible for? "I do not think Jalen Lecque is ready next year to go into the NBA and play. However, once we get into the NBA Draft everybody is looking to draft upside. They are looking to draft the next big thing. The point guards are great in the NBA right now, but the majority of those guys are old. "Everybody is looking for the next big thing in what is universally considered a weak draft in 2019, and it is especially weak at the point guard position. "Lecque checks a lot of boxes. He'll go into pre-draft camps and just test off the charts when it comes to athleticism. Due to social media and stuff, he'll prob - ably have some incredible highlights coming out this year. He's going to force your hand. "When you get to the late 20s in the first round of the draft, which is where [Anfernee] Simons was picked last year [after a postgraduate year at IMG Academy], people are taking flyers on kids. "They are trying to see who they will try to build into being their next guy. Lecque has a lot of tools that will really open the eyes of some NBA Draft people. He could possibly go in the first round." What needs to improve on Lecque's three-point shooting? "He's going to need that re-tooled. He has a two- handed shot, and he gets his thumb involved with his off hand [left]. It's a completely rhythm shot. "At the NBA level, you aren't going to have many rhythm three-pointers. You have to shoot off the catch. "When he is in rhythm, especially in the mid-range, he feels a whole lot more confident and is a lot smoother. It is easier for him. In three-point range and off the catch, he's going to have to re-tool it." What do you think of Kentucky post transfer Sacha Killeya-Jones, who will be a redshirt junior for the Pack next year? "Sacha Killeya-Jones is going to be huge for them next year. I think he fits exactly what the team could use this year [while he sits out]. During the times I've watched them this offseason at NC State, he is by far their best big on the court. His flu - idity, his ability to switch on defense and his offensive skill set are exactly what Keatts wants. "It's going to be interesting to see how the bigs play this year." Reynolds Coliseum's Arena Is Renamed For Legendary Coach Jim Valvano Jim Valvano's legacy at NC State will be immortalized thanks to the donation from a collection of NC State boost- ers, who made a $5 million pledge to name the arena inside Reynolds Coliseum after the late Wolfpack head coach. The ceremony formally naming James T. Valvano Arena was Dec. 5 before the Pack's annual Heritage Game at Reyn- olds, which was played against Western Carolina. "Coach Valvano captured the hearts of Wolfpack fans with his coaching success and dynamic personality," NC State director of athletics Debbie Yow said in a prepared statement. "Thanks to a small group of NC State alums, we can further memorialize his contributions through this naming opportunity in his beloved Reynolds Coliseum." Valvano's coaching career is most known for leading NC State's Cinderella run to the 1983 national champion- ship, a title that has been made even more famous by the successful ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "Survive and Advance." Valvano coached at NC State for 10 seasons, making the NCAA Tournament seven times and reaching two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16 in addition to the championship run. He also won a pair of ACC Tournaments. Overall he went 209-110 (.655 winning percentage) coaching the Pack, including a 121-37 mark at Reynolds. Valvano, who was also NC State's director of athletics from 1986-89, went into broadcasting after leaving the Wolf - pack and then had a public battle with cancer. Before passing away in 1993, Valvano began The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which has become one of the most prolific fundraising organizations in the country. Since its formation, it was raised more than $200 million for cancer research. With its administrative costs covered by an endowment fund, 100 percent of direct donations to The V Foundation go to cancer research and programs. Valvano announced the initiative during his legendary speech at ESPN's ESPY Awards shortly before his death. Val - vano's speech is still replayed yearly on ESPN. NC State fans, though, perhaps more fondly remember Valvano's last speech at Reynolds Coliseum during a ceremony honoring the 10-year anniversary of the 1983 title. For his entire coaching career at NC State, Kay Yow coached the women's team. Yow also had a public battle with cancer, passing away from breast cancer in 2009. Both were inducted into the NC State Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 2012. Now both of their names are in the official title of the arena: Kay Yow Court at James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum. — Matt Carter The official new name for Reynolds is Kay Yow Court at James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS Five-star guard and NCSU signee Jalen Lecque is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 6 point guard and No. 29 overall prospect in the nation. PHOTO COURTESY USA BASKETBALL