The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
58 ■ THE WOLFPACKER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Was part of a platoon in the paint with Wyatt Walker last season and played all 36 games … Was second on the team in field goal percent- age (55.2 percent) and had the best free throwing shooting mark (78.5 percent) … Had a career-high 18 points in a home win over Pittsburgh and in a loss at Florida State … Also had personal-best nine rebounds in both those games as well as a road win at Boston College … Blocked a season-high four shots in the Pitt win and during a home victory over Florida State … Originally signed and enrolled at Ohio State, where he redshirted in 2016-17 before leaving the team the following offseason and matriculating to Northwest Florida State … Helped his team go 31-3 … Previously played for former NC State assistant coach A.W. Hamilton at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., where he averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game while playing along- side Pack junior guard Braxton Beverly and helping the team win the Prep School National Championship … Also played at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio … Was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 77 prospect nationally in the 2016 class by Rivals.com … Regarded as a three-star signing out of junior college by the same service. PERSONAL Son of Caren Crew and Derek Funderburk … Birthday is April 12. STATISTICS Year G-GS MPG PPG RPG BPG FG% 3FG% FT% 2017-18* 34-33 27.5 11.5 5.0 1.7 51.1 27.9 74.3 2018-19 36-1 19.9 8.8 4.2 0.4 55.2 26.9 78.5 * at Northwest Florida State D.J. FUNDERBURK 0 R-Jr. • Cleveland • 6-10 • 225 F 78.5 Funderburk has rare touch for a 6-10 post player, and he made 95 of his 121 free throw attempts for a team-best 78.5 percent. That was also the ninth best percentage in the entire ACC, with the other nine players in the top 10 being guards with the exception of FSU wing Ter - ance Mann. The last non-guard/wing to lead NC State in free throw shooting was power forward Brandon Costner in 2007-08. The last center to pace the squad was Todd Fuller in 1995-96. ANALYSIS Funderburk's season is in question after he was suspended indefinitely in the pre- season. Presuming he meets head coach Kevin Keatts' benchmarks to rejoin the team, he provides a high-upside post presence on the offensive end of the floor. The lengthy, athletic forward added 15 pounds in the offseason to better withstand the physicality of the ACC. He has a soft touch on his mid-range jumper and can finish around the rim. He is a prime candidate for a significant jump in performance this year. BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2019-20 PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN