The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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140 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Returning Star Point Guard Markell Johnson Headlines The Finalized 2019-20 Basketball Roster BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State had a series of four big deci- sions that helped finalize the roster for the 2019-20 campaign. The biggest revolved around the point guard position, with rising senior Markell Johnson electing to bypass playing profes- sionally to return to NC State. That move proved to be especially impor- tant when Wolfpack signee Jalen Lecque of Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy de- cided to keep his name in the NBA Draft (Lecque went undrafted and then signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent.) Last season, the 6-1, 175-pound John- son averaged 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game, and shot a career-high 42.2 percent from three-point range. With added con- sistency he should challenge for All-ACC honors and could be the difference maker in getting NCSU back into the NCAA Tourna- ment. "It has always been my dream to play in the NBA and it still is, but at this time I have decided to withdraw my name from the draft and return for my senior season," Johnson said on his Instagram account. "I'm excited [with] what we have return- ing and ready to join my teammates to get NC State back to the NCAA Tournament." "I will always support our players in gathering information to make the best de- cisions for their future," head coach Kevin Keatts said. "Markell got valuable feed- back and has made the decision to return to NC State for his senior season. "We certainly get much stronger as a program with his return and look forward to seeing him back on the court." NC State also finalized the frontcourt with the addition of University of Mis- souri-Kansas City (UMKC) graduate trans- fer Danny Dixon and redshirt sophomore forward Atticus Taylor, formerly of South- west Mississippi Community College, dur- ing the spring signing period. Keatts will have a 13-man roster with Nebraska transfer Thomas Allen expected to redshirt and rehab his ankle after surgery May 22. Dixon picked NC State over California and Pittsburgh May 7, after officially visit- ing the Wolfpack May 2-3. The 6-10, 230-pound center averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game in his lone year at UMKC, where he played for coach Kareem Richardson, who worked with Keatts at Louisville. "They've been recruiting me for a while ever since I got my release from my school," said Dixon, 22. "I really love the coaching staff there and the visit went re- ally well. "I wanted to go somewhere that had a good chance for a big year and to go to the NCAA Tournament hopefully, and be a part of a successful program." Dixon, who graduated with a liberal arts degree and a minor in business, plans to pursue his master's in sports management. The former Grosse Point Park (Mich.) South High standout spent a post-graduate year at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy be- fore embarking to George Mason, UMKC and now NC State. Keatts reached out to Dixon and assis- tant coach Roy Roberson helped with the follow-up. "He's all about winning, and I wanted to be a part of that," Dixon said of Keatts. "For my last year, I wanted to go some- where I could play and win a lot of games. "My previous coach had a lot of respect for him. He told me that he was a real good guy and that made me more comfortable committing there." Dixon was able to crack double digits in points in 11 games last year, including going for 15 points and six rebounds in a 94-66 loss at Connecticut Nov. 11. Dixon also made 5 of 6 three-pointers over his last five games of the season, which was a weapon he didn't utilize in the past. "That showed I can compete against higher-level players," he said. "I can have a good season at a higher-level conference. "I consider myself a skilled big man and I can stretch the floor and shoot the ball. I play hard." Taylor verbally committed to NC State May 3, following his official visit. The 6-7, 205-pounder hopes to fill some of the void with the graduation of Torin Dorn at forward. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining for Keatts. Taylor averaged 9.0 points and 7.4 re- bounds per game last year for Southwest Back To Lead The Pack Johnson averaged 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game while connecting on a career-high 42.2 percent from three-point range in 2018-19. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN WOLFPACK BASKETBALL 2019-20 NC State Basketball Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (High School) — Thomas Allen* G 6-1 184 Jr. Garner, N.C. (Brewster Academy [N.H.]) — Pat Andree F 6-8 225 Sr. Colts Neck, N.J. (Christian Brothers Academy) 12 Manny Bates F 6-11 221 R-Fr. Fayetteville, N.C. (Northwood Temple Academy) 10 Braxton Beverly G 6-0 180 Jr. Hazard, Ky. (Hargrave Military Academy [Va.]) 13 C.J. Bryce G 6-5 195 5th-Sr. Charlotte (North Mecklenburg) 24 Devon Daniels G 6-5 200 R-Jr. Battle Creek, Mich. (Prolific Prep [Calif.]) — Danny Dixon C 6-10 230 5th-Sr. Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 0 DJ Funderburk C 6-10 210 R-Jr. Cleveland (Hargrave Military Academy [Va.]) 55 Blake Harris G 6-3 190 Jr. Chapel Hill, N.C. (Word of God) 4 Jericole Hellems F 6-7 198 So. St. Louis (Chaminade) 11 Markell Johnson G 6-1 175 Sr. Cleveland (East Tech) — Dereon Seabron G 6-4 180 Fr. Norfolk, Va. (Massanutten Military Academy) — Atticus Taylor F 6-7 205 R-So. Davenport, Iowa (Davenport North) * Not eligible to play until 2020-21 per NCAA transfer rules