The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1113082
16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK What will you take away from your last game where you scored a career-high against Lipscomb in a heartbreaking NIT loss at Reynolds Coliseum? "Honestly, I'll just probably re- member the electric environment it was. I just tried to play every play in the moment, and take it in and enjoy it. Win or lose, that was go- ing to be my last game at State in front of our home fans. I'll probably remember that. "It was definitely tough, but any loss is tough for me because I'm a competitor and I love to win. I tried to give it all for my teammates and the fact that we couldn't win, I was more upset for them. I've been hard on myself because I felt like I could've made a couple plays down the stretch and it would've been a little differ- ent, but that's life. "Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way, and it's about how you react to it and how you come back from it." What was it like to close out your career with three straight games at historic Reynolds Coliseum in the NIT? "That was probably the most in- tense and electric game I've ever played at Reynolds [against Lip- scomb]. It was amazing. "It was probably one of the most fun games that I've had at State." How do you view your first two years at NC State, including your redshirt year, and how the future looks under Kevin Keatts? "I think it is looking great go- ing forward. My first two years I feel like we had a lot of different pieces, and we just couldn't get it together. Then Coach [Keatts] came, and we were able to estab- lish a different type of culture of playing hard and taking everything a little more seriously. "I think it's done wonders for the program and I like the direction we're moving in." What will you take away from your time at NC State? "All the teammates I've had over the years. All the great times we've had. All my coaches have been able to impart some wisdom on me. All the fans that come out and support us every day. Every game is amaz- ing. I try to take it in every game, so I'll remember all of that. Everybody that had a part in it. "NC State is a beautiful place and it's a place where a lot of people love to get behind a team that works hard, and we've just seen that and that energy being able to carry on. I'll remember that." After experiencing so many different aspects of being a student-athlete in college, how do you think that will help you when the ball stops bouncing professionally? "Basketball is kind of like life. It's a roller coaster and you can never get too high or too low. Everything I've learned on the court and off the court, I'll be able to take it into when I'm a father or husband one day and just be able to stay even- keeled and try to inspire other peo- ple to be able to chase their dreams because NC State has allowed me to chase mine. "Every day since I was 11 years old, I would pray at night to be able to play in the ACC. NC State gave me the chance to do that. I can't be more happy or be more blessed for the opportunity." What is your favorite memory of Coach Keatts? "It's hard to pick one memory. That is like picking your favorite song, there are too many to chose from. I would just say that the en- ergy he brought to NC State is my favorite memory. "Just being here for so long, I was able to see a change in energy, and it carried through the program and the fan base. That is my favorite memory." Who shoots better, you or Coach Keatts? "Me, of course. Last time we played a shooting game, ask him who won." — Jacey Zembal GETTING TO KNOW: Dorn averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his final season of college eligibility. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN TORIN DORN ■ BASKETBALL NC State fifth-year senior wing Torin Dorn paced the Wolfpack in both scoring and rebounding while finishing off an enriching college career. The 6-5, 210-pound Dorn averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in helping the Wolfpack go 24-12 and reach the quarterfinals of the NIT. The Charlotte, N.C., native — whose father, Torin Dorn Sr., played football at North Carolina and in the NFL — was an undervalued prospect coming out of Vance High. He signed with Charlotte and enjoyed a productive freshman year, while having two head coaches with the 49ers. He picked NC State over Miami, playing one year for head coach Mark Gottfried and his last two under Kevin Keatts. Dorn scored 1,651 career points and grabbed 733 rebounds in 133 career games in his five-year college career. He was invited to play in the Portsmouth Invitational April 17-20 in Portsmouth, Va., to boost his professional aspirations. Dorn took the time recently to recap his journey at NC State.