The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/141892
tracking the PACK ■ Red And White Notebook Lacey, who averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 re‑ bounds and 3.2 assists per contest during his sophomore campaign with the Crimson Tide, will be eligible to play for the Wolfpack in 2014‑15. photo courtesy alabama Men's Basketball Adds Alabama Transfer Trevor Lacey Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey didn't know what his final decision would be until mid-June, and he joked that the college coaching staffs weren't going to be sure until he faxed his paperwork in. Lacey ultimately picked NC State over Pittsburgh June 16 and made it official the next morning, much to the relief of Wolfpack head coach Mark Gottfried. Lacey averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game his sophomore season for Alabama. He shot an impressive 37.3 percent from three-point land and 39.2 percent from the field for the 23-13 squad, which reached the NIT. Lacey will have to sit out next year per NCAA rules and then join the Wolfpack for the 2014-15 season. Lacey credited the Pittsburgh coaching staff for making the decision a hard one, but now knows he'll be facing the Panthers in the ACC. "The final touches on the decision actually came Sunday [June 16]," Lacey said. "We talked about it as a family and felt this was the best route for me. The rumors [of him being headed to NC State] were never quoted by my family or me and I don't know where they came from [over the last few weeks]. "Coach Gottfried didn't get excited until I sent in the paperwork. He was excited when the rumors came, but then they weren't true. Once I faxed in the paperwork, we talked about it and he told me I made a great decision. I want to get better every day." Lacey knew what he wanted the second time around in the recruiting process. The combination of playing for Gottfried and being around the passion of the ACC proved to be a great selling point. Gottfried originally recruited Lacey when he was the head coach at Alabama, and then tried again to land him upon taking over NC State in April 2011. "I like their style of play," said Lacey, who officially visited NC State May 9-11. "What stands out the most is probably that basketball is a priority there. Being at a football school, and I'm not saying Alabama didn't take basketball seriously, but football was by far the most dominant program. We have the most dominant football program in the country. "What stood out the most was how passionate the NC State fans are about basketball." The 6-3, 225-pound guard from Huntsville, Ala., played his first two years at Alabama, but hopes his last two college years lead him to his ultimate goal of playing professionally. "A part of my recruitment is how I'm going to be played," Lacey said. "We talked, and my natural position for being a pro is point guard, but I can also play the two guard because of my size. I'm looking forward to being a combo guard and making plays at both positions. "I can knock down shots at shooting guard, and create and attack the defense at point guard." Lacey was slated to arrive in Raleigh the last weekend in June and might play in some pro-am games during the summer. He hopes to get back into tip-top shape after going through the recruiting process. "I'll be enrolling in the summer school session in July," said Lacey, who could graduate after his redshirt junior year with a degree in sports management. "I'm not familiar with the pro-am there, but I'm pretty sure the players and coaches will put me on to it, and I'm looking forward to competing. "I'll put together a plan for the summer and try to be the best player in the country in 2014 when I step on the floor." Lacey knows the next year could be an invaluable tool in his long-range development. "It's going to be a good and bad situation for me," Lacey said. "The last time people saw me play, I was 220 pounds. I'm looking forward to coming back slimmer, quicker. I want to be a better all-around player and not just be known as a three-point shooter. I want to be more consistent at finishing at the rim." Lacey joins friend Ralston Turner, an LSU transfer, and Desmond Lee, who would both be seniors in 2014-15, and class of 2014 prep products Caleb Martin and Cody Martin of Mocksville, N.C. Turner will be able to pass along advice on going through the transition to sitting out next season. "Ralston said it was hard, but he knew it was a business move for him in how he wanted to take basketball more serious and pursue a career in basketball," Lacey said. "He said coming from the SEC to the ACC, there are differences and people are passionate about basketball in the ACC. NC State can put you in place to reach your goals." Rivals.com ranked Lacey as the No. 6 shooting guard and No. 24 overall player in the country in the class of 2011. The Huntsville Butler High product originally picked Alabama over Auburn, Kansas, Kentucky and Connecticut. "I know I'm a better player than what I presented at Alabama," Lacey said. "I had a pretty good two years at Alabama, but I know I'm 10 times better than what I showed. I didn't get a chance to showcase all my skills." Lorenzo Brown Goes In Second Round NC State early entry candidate Lorenzo Brown was drafted No. 52 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA Draft June 27. Brown was the lone NC State player drafted — power forwards C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell and wing Scott Wood were not selected in the two rounds. Leslie landed with the New York Knicks summer league team, Howell with the Denver Nuggets and Wood with the Los Angeles Clippers. Brown joins a cadre of point guards on the Timberwolves, who have Ricky Rubio, J.J. Barea and Luke Ridnour under contract for next year. Brown averaged 12.4 points, 7.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last year, and played hobbled down the stretch with an ankle injury suffered against Virginia Jan. 29. He had been playing some of his best basketball prior to the injury, including tallying 20 points and 11 assists in a 91-83 win over North Carolina Jan. 26. Brown finished with 22 points, nine assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes played in his last college game, against Temple in the NCAA Tournament. NC State finished fifth in the ACC during the regular season, but reached the semifinals in the ACC Tournament en route to a 24-11 mark. NCSU went 63‑38 during Brown's three-year career. Brown, out of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial High, was ranked as the No. 7 point guard and the No. 37 overall prospect in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com, but needed to take a detour to Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy for a post-graduate year. NC State Finishes No. 34 In Directors' Cup NC State brought home its second-highest finish in the history of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Directors' Cup standings, finishing 34th for the 2012-13 school year. The Wolfpack also set a school record with its 633.6 points earned, easily eclipsing the previous high mark of 576.6 set last year. "Our overarching goal for NC State athletics is to become a perennial top-25 intercollegiate athletics program," NC State athletics director Debbie Yow said. "Congratulations to our coaches and student athletes for their improved performance in the Director's Cup. Stronger competitive outcomes and academic achievement remain the cornerstones of our strategic plan." NC State has seen rapid improvement in the performance of its 23 varsity teams over the last two years. During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, a total of 30 teams have scored points in the Director's Cup standings, the most ever in back-to-back years. With its 34th-place finish this year and 37th last year, the Pack recorded its highest finishes in back-to-back years since 1994-95 and 1995-96 (32nd and 34th). Larry Farmer Returns To Western Michigan Larry Farmer, NC State's director of player development for men's basketball, is returning to be an assistant coach at Western Michigan. Farmer spent the 2012-13 season with the Wolfpack, where he assisted the coaching staff with evaluation of video, development of practice and game schedules, and game planning. He also acted as the program's academic and community liaison. "Larry was invaluable to our staff," NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. "I had asked him to give up onfloor coaching and on-the-road recruiting, and after a year, he realized the coaching and recruiting was something he really missed. I enjoyed having Larry here and wish him the best as he returns to WMU." Farmer previously spent two seasons with the Broncos as an assistant coach before coming to NC State. — Jacey Zembal 18 ■ the wolfpacker 14-16,18,20,22-23.Tracking The Pack.indd 18 7/2/13 12:14 PM