The Wolfpacker

March 2013 - Signing Day Edition

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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��� basketBALL recruiting NC State Is Aiming To Add New Players This Spring By Jacey Zembal C State is on the prowl to add some pieces during the spring signing period April 17-May 15, especially in the frontcourt. Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian star senior power forward Julius Randle, Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy senior power forward Lennard Freeman, Fayetteville (N.C.) Northwood Temple senior center Sidy Djitte and New Mexico Junior College combo guard Desmond Lee are some of the players that have been under consideration this winter, and four claim Wolfpack offers. Randle is the centerpiece recruit and is down to NC State, Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Florida and Oklahoma. He has shut down the recruiting process and is poised to make his decision by mid-March. Randle officially visited NC State Jan. 25-27 and raved about the trip, which he took with his mother Carolyn Kyles. The Wolfpack followed up with head coach Mark Gottfried and assistant coach Orlando Early traveling to meet with Randle in mid-February, which proved to be his last communication with college coaches. ���I���m ready to get this done,��� Randle said. ���I think I���ve got pretty good information in terms of what I���m looking for. I know the pros and cons of every school, and I think they���ve all done a good job of selling themselves to me. ���Now, I have to look at where I���ll have the most fun, where I���ll be happiest. I know that if I���m happy I���ll play my best. Even if I���m struggling, being happy makes it easier to get through any adversity.��� Rivals.com ranks the 6-9, 240-pounder as the No. 2 overall player in the class of 2013. Randle was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic April 13 and the Nike Hoop Summit April 20. Randle is trying to receive a waiver for the McDonald���s All-American Game April 3. He missed the majority of his senior season due to a foot injury ��� he returned to action Feb. 15 ��� which is why he wasn���t selected to the McDonald���s Game. The other three targets are likely to decide sometime in April, but recruiting can be unpredictable. NC State will have a better idea of how to proceed with Randle likely making his decision in March. Freeman has emerged as a key spring target for NC State and attended his first Wolfpack game, against Florida State, Feb. 19. N Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian power forward Julius Randle, Rivals.com���s No.�� 2 overall player nationally, is expected to choose between NC State, Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Florida and Oklahoma by mid-March. Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy power forward Lennard Freeman is being pursued by NC State, UAB, Seton Hall, DePaul, Rutgers and South Florida, and he attended the Pack's Feb. 19 home game versus Florida State. Freeman watched NC State junior power forward C.J. Leslie tally 19 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman combo forward T.J. Warren enjoyed the best game of his young Wolfpack career with 31 points and 13 boards in the 84-66 win over FSU. The power forward made the trip with Oak Hill Academy head coach Steve Smith and his assistants. Smith had the opportunity to watch NC State freshman point guard Tyler Lewis for the first time live this season. Lewis led Oak Hill to a 44-0 mark and the mythical national title last year. NC State assistant coach Rob Moxley watched Freeman play Feb. 15 at Oak Hill, prior to the FSU trip. Freeman came away impressed with the PNC Arena atmosphere. ���They had a lot of people there even though it was on a Tuesday night,��� Freeman said. ���Usually fans don���t come out unless it���s a weekend game, and they still filled it up. The students also showed a lot of support.��� Freeman appreciates getting an NC State offer and said the Wolfpack and a handful of other colleges are recruiting him the hardest right now. He said Gottfried wants to get this done, ���ASAP.��� ���NC State, UAB, Seton Hall, DePaul, Rutgers and South Florida have offered, and are recruiting me hard,��� Freeman said. The bouncy 6-8, 225-pounder has started at power forward for Oak Hill this season. He attended Washington (D.C.) Roosevelt High his freshman year before making the move to Washington (D.C.) St. John���s College High for his next two years. The chance to attend Oak Hill was a big opportunity, and he could get a taste of college life by living away from home. Freeman said he is still undecided on his plans for next year. He could sign with a college this spring, or elect to spend a post-graduate year at a prep school and play traveling ball this summer. He���s a year younger than his grade, but is a standout student. Lee is getting attention from a host of colleges. NC State, Arkansas, UNLV, Creighton, Washington, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Illinois have traveled to Hobbs, N.M., to check out the 6-3, 195-pound guard from Norfolk, Va. Moxley has made the trip to watch him in action, and Lee claims a Wolfpack offer. Lee knows what he would bring to a power conference program. ���I���m real hard-nosed,��� Lee told Rivals. com. ���I try to get to the rack and also hit the outside shot. I can take over ballgames when I need to. I try to get to the free throw line as much as possible. On defense, I get in the passing lanes and try to get steals and easy baskets in the open court. ���I can play the point. I wouldn���t call myself a point guard, more of a combo guard. Whatever the coach wants me to do I���ll do it. I can handle the ball when needed.��� The well-traveled Lee was a two-sport photo courtesy rivals.com photo courtesy rivals.com 86��� ������ the wolfpacker 86-89.BKB Recruiting.indd 86 2/26/13 3:46 PM

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