The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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presence in the locker room and always will- ing to do whatever was needed on the court. F T.J. Warren; Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers (2014-present): Warren was king of the NBA's bubble throughout the month of August, recording the first 50-point game of his career and becoming one of the league's top scorers (he ranked third with 31.0 points per game from the league's return to the start of the playoffs), even if it was in isolation. Warren has thrived since being traded from Phoenix to Indiana in June 2019. Women's Basketball The Best G Andrea Stinson; Charlotte Sting, Detroit Shock (1997-2005): A three-time All-Star, Stinson played for her hometown Charlotte Sting for all but one season in her nine-year career, averaging double-digit scoring in each of her first seven seasons. She was in the league's top 10 in scoring average in four different seasons and was named All-WNBA in 1997 and '98. The Rest C Rhonda Mapp; Charlotte Sting, Los Angeles Sparks (1997-2003): The WNBA came along just as the dominant college post player reached her prime. Overall, the former All-American spent more than 13 seasons playing professionally, first over- seas then in the WNBA. She was the No. 3 overall pick in the league's elite player draft, conducted before its inaugural season. F/C Chasity Melvin; Cleveland Rock- ers, Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics (1999-2010): The No. 11 overall pick by Cleveland in 1999 after leading the Wolf- pack to their only NCAA Final Four ap- pearance, Melvin played 12 years for three franchises. She was a 2001 All-Star, and helped Cleveland and Washington reach the WNBA playoffs a total of seven times. She still ranks in the league's top 10 in offensive rebounding (890, seventh) and in the top 25 for overall rebounding (2,118; 21st). PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS PHOTO COURTESY CHARLOTTE STING The Best MF Tab Ramos (1988-2002) A three-time World Cup player and two- time Olympian, Ramos became the most rec- ognizable American player in the world not long after he began his professional career in 1988. When it was finally time for the United States to begin Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996, Ra- mos was allocated to the MetroStars franchise in New Jer- sey and became the first player in the new league to sign. In all, the native of Uruguay and longtime resident of New Jersey played 13 professional seasons in Spain, Mexico and the United States, as well 12 years with the U.S. National Team, where he earned 81 caps and scored eight goals. Ramos, currently the head coach of the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005 and was an inaugural inductee into the NC State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. The Rest F Roy Lassiter (1992-2004): A Washington native, Lassiter grew up in Raleigh and led Athens Drive to the North Carolina state championship. After a successful career at NC State, he started his pro career in Costa Rica and then returned to the U.S. to play for the MLS' Tampa Bay Mutiny. He was the league's top scorer in its inaugural year and helped D.C. United reach back-to-back MLS title games, winning the championship in 1999. He also played for the U.S. National Team from 1992-2000, earning 34 caps and scoring four goals. MF/D Pablo Mastroeni (1998-2013): Known for his productivity and longevity, Mastroeni was first drafted by the Miami Fusion, then went to the Colo- rado Rapids after the Fusion folded. He helped the Rapids win the 2010 MLS title. Mastroeni twice played for the U.S. World Cup Team (2002, '06), recording 65 caps for the U.S. Na- tional Team. He coached the Rapids from 2014-17 and is currently an assistant to Ramos with the Houston Dynamo. ■ Men's Soccer SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 ■ 43