The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1306549
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 ■ 23 2020-2021 MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW and play at that position. That guy won't be on an island. "With Markell Johnson and also Brax- ton Beverly [in the past], we typically put two guys on the court that can handle the basketball at the same time or share those duties. Early on, you're going to see a lot of guys playing the position — Cam Hayes is going to have the opportunity, Shakeel's go- ing to have the opportunity, Dereon Seabron. "I would love to keep Braxton and Thomas, the two veteran guys who can re- ally shoot the ball, off the point, but if I need to, they are capable of playing it." Deep Frontcourt When Keatts arrived at NC State, he seemed to prefer "small ball." He routinely would play Torin Dorn, a muscular 6-5 guard, at power forward. That changed last season, when Keatts did a 180-degree turn and started a big lineup of Bates and Funderburk together for much of the latter part of the campaign. Now, the coach has more depth and op- tions to sustain a big lineup for longer pe- riods of time. Both Funderburk, a fifth-year senior, and Bates, a redshirt sophomore, are back for the Wolfpack. The 6-10, 225-pound Fun- derburk entertained turning pro but decided to return for his final year at NC State. He is Keatts' lead- ing returning scorer (12.8 points per game) and rebounder (6.1 boards) from last year's team. The coaching staff would not mind seeing Funderburk show more of his perimeter skill set as he gets more com- fortable playing the power forward position. "We want him to get better shooting the ball behind the three-point line and more ball security," Keatts explained. Redshirt sophomore center Manny Bates paced the ACC with an average of 2.9 blocks per contest last season and rejected a total of 83 shots, shattering the program's old freshman record of 36. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN