The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1497827
MAY/JUNE 2023 ■ 43 ward Jada Boyd for a team-high 22 blocks. Wes Moore consistently complimented the junior guard's defensive effort. Two highly touted freshmen will look to add depth to the backcourt next season. Zoe Brooks, a 5-foot-10 guard, aver- aged 23.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 steals and 4.2 assists per game as a senior at St. John Vianney High in Holmdel, N.J. Both MaxPreps.com and NJ.com named her New Jersey player of the year, and SBLive tabbed her as its national player of the year. She was also chosen to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. Brooks is ranked as the No. 9 prospect nationally in the 2023 class in the HoopGurlz Re- cruiting Rankings/espnW 100. Laci Steele, a 5-foot-11 guard from Edmond (Okla.) North High, is 56th in the HoopGurlz/espnW 100, and she won player of the year honors in her home state from MaxPreps and Gatorade. Forwards And Centers Camille Hobby and Boyd both walked on Senior Day and will move on from NC State. They have been with the program for four years and, like Brown-Turner, have an extra season of eligibility pro- vided by the NCAA during the pandemic. Hobby transferred to Illinois in mid- April. She patiently waited her turn behind former NC State All-American Elissa Cunane and started all 32 contests this past season, joining Brown-Turner as the only players to start every game for the Pack. Hobby averaged 8.8 points and grabbed 4.2 rebounds per game. Boyd, who shared ACC Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2020-21, started 23 of 27 games and averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds but, for the first time in her career, shot less than 50.0 percent from the floor (88 of 192, 45.8 percent). She has not yet publicly announced her intentions for next season, but Mitchell Northam of WUNC Radio re- ported that the forward will not use her extra year of eligibility. River Baldwin, a graduate transfer from Florida State, played in a platoon at the center position with Hobby, joining her as the only players to make at least half their shots (minimum 10 attempts). She scored 5.7 points per game and also proved adept at drawing charges defen- sively. Coming into the season as the No. 22 most impactful transfer in the country, per ESPN.com, graduate Mimi Collins started nine games and averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds. She scored a season-high 19 points during a noncon- ference win over Georgia. The forward, who began her college career at Mary- land, will likely take on a significant role next season. In addition to Collins and Baldwin, NC State will welcome a pair of freshmen to the frontcourt. Mallory Collier, a 6-foot-3 center from Bartlett (Tenn.) High, averaged 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on a team that reached the state title game and was a finalist for Tennessee Miss Basketball. She checks in at No. 55 in the HoopGurlz/espnW 100 recruiting rank- ings. Maddie Cox from Flower Mound (Texas) High is the younger sister of for- mer Baylor All-American and WNBA draft pick Lauren Cox. She averaged 17.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a senior on a team that went 27-7 and reached the state playoffs. Cox is ranked No. 71 on the HoopGurlz / espnW 100 list of top national recruits in the 2023 class. ■ Ethan McDowell contributed to this report. As of mid-April, the NC State women's basketball roster for next season sat at nine scholarship athletes and one walk-on. Teams are allowed 15 scholarship players, giving coach Wes Moore leeway to make further additions as he sees fit. In the past, he has indicated that he prefers to not use all 15 scholar- ships. Here's a look at the personnel changes for NC State women's basketball heading into the offseason: Departing Players Diamond Johnson, G, 5-5, Jr.— Was NC State's leading scorer this past season at 12.3 points per game … Also grabbed 4.2 rebounds per game … Intends to transfer. Jakia Brown-Turner, W, 6-0, Sr.— One of two athletes to play in every game this season … Averaged 9.1 points per game and scored career point No. 1,000 … Com- mitted to Maryland as a transfer. Camille Hobby, C, 6-3, Sr. — Averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting a team-best 51.8 percent from the field… Committed to Illinois as a transfer. Jada Boyd, F, 6-2, Sr.— Started 23 of 27 games played and averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds … Reportedly not returning but has not publicly announced plans. Returning Players* Mimi Collins, F, 6-3, Gr.— Played in all 32 contests and made nine starts … Aver- aged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. River Baldwin, C, 6-5, Gr.— Played 14.5 minutes per contest and averaged 5.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 50.7 percent. Aziaha James, G, 5-9, Jr.— Averaged 6.8 points per game for the year … Scored in double figures in 4 of 7 contests to end the season, including a career-high 20 points against Virginia Tech. Saniya Rivers, G, 6-1, Jr.— Led NC State in assists (91), steals (57) and rebounds (5.2 per game) ... Averaged 8.6 points. Madison Hayes, G, 6-0, Sr.— Scored 7.0 points and grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game … Hit 36.4 percent of her three-point field goal attempts. Additions* Zoe Brooks, G, 5-10, Fr.— Rated the nation's No. 9 overall prospect by HoopGurlz/ espnW … Averaged 23.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.8 steals and 4.2 assists per game as a senior at St. John Vianney High in Holmdel, N.J. Laci Steele, G, 5-11, Fr.— Averaged 21.3 points per game as a senior at Edmond (Okla.) North High. … Led the Lady Huskies to a second consecutive state champion- ship … Ranked No. 56 by HoopGurlz/espnW. Mallory Collier, P, 6-3, Fr.— Rated the No. 55 prospect nationally by HoopGurlz/ espnW … Was a finalist for Tennessee Miss Basketball honors. Maddie Cox, F, 6-2, Fr.— Checked in at No. 71 in the HoopGurlz/espnW rankings… Averaged 17.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a senior at Flower Mound (Texas) High. Alyssa Lewis, G, 5-8, Fr. — Coming to NC State as a preferred walk-on … Was a second-team all-district selection for Hickory Ridge High in Harrisburg, N.C. * Eligibility listed here is for 2023-24 season. NC State Has Key Vacancies To Fill In Offseason