The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 ■ 33 not too far from us, and yeah, we knew she'd be a great player. She's still got a lot to learn, a long way to go." Jones joined a backcourt this fall that helped lead NC State to the Final Four just a few months earlier. The Pack did not bring in any transfer portal help at those positions because it returned so much experience, and its freshmen are ready to contribute now. Jones scored in double figures in five of her first nine games this season, and the guard has a helpful group of teammates to lean on. "I'm just a freshman, so they're telling me the do's and don'ts in college, and I'm going to get better at it," Jones said. 'She's Just So Confident' Moore went into this season with a guard-focused squad, and he wanted to see the Pack play up-tempo. Jones has been happy to oblige, averaging 9.6 points per game off the bench. She will take off down the court with the ball in her hand, make plays for her- self and, just when she has the attention of the defense, she'll dish to one of her teammates. She's a three-level scorer who has knocked down 18 threes, the second- most on the team. The guard can drive to the hoop and convert layups despite her 5-foot-7 stature while also knocking down floaters and jumpers in the mid- range. "I feel like I'm doing well," Jones said. "I'm still a freshman, so taking bad shots sometimes can hurt me. But my team- mates and my coaches believe in me, so I just keep playing, learn from mistakes and don't make them again." Moore described Jones as explosive and quick. She's tenacious on the defen- sive end and is tied for fourth on the team with 6 blocks. Jones' career is off to an electric start. She hit 4 threes against Ole Miss to help carry the team to its first ranked win of the year. Rivers thinks highly of the Pack's young group of guards. She believes those underclassmen, including Jones, are still far from reaching their ceiling. "She's just so confident, and she's not cocky," Rivers said. "She loves sharing the ball, so just seeing her grow is amaz- ing." ■ November Signees Bolster NC State's Backcourt The NC State women's basketball program brightened its fu- ture by bringing aboard two prospects in November who both rank among the top 70 players in the country. The Wolfpack signed four-star guards Ky'She Lunan of Scott- sdale, Ariz., and Adelaide Jernigan of Winston-Salem. Jernigan had verbally committed in October, while Lunan joined the class in November during the early signing period. The 5-foot-9 Lunan is the No. 60 recruit in the country accord- ing to ESPN, as well as the No. 2 prospect in Arizona. She had also been considering Virginia Tech before announcing on Nov. 15 that she was headed to Raleigh. "I've loved watching NC State ever since I started watching NCAA basketball," she told On3's Talia Goodman. "I just love the way they play. I feel like they really resemble the way I play. The coaching staff also said that my game relates to them." Lunan took an official visit to NC State in September and also checked out West Virginia, Colorado and Arizona, as well as the Hokies. Before cutting her list of top schools down to the two ACC finalists, she also considered Tennessee, Syracuse and Texas Tech. During her sophomore season at Millennium High, Lunan averaged 15 points, 3 steals and 1.8 blocks while playing 11.6 minutes per game. She missed her junior season with a knee injury. "I'd describe myself as very versatile," she said. "I can defend. I work hard on both ends of the court. I can score on all three levels and I'm a great teammate. I'm unorthodox, so I don't do normal. I play off reflex, which can be a good or bad thing. I'm focusing on getting into a rhythm … and on consistency." Lunan became the second player in NC State's 2025 class alongside Jernigan, who signed with the Pack earlier in the week. A standout at Bishop McGuinness High, Jernigan is listed by ESPN as the No. 66 prospect nationally and No. 1 player in North Carolina. The 5-10 guard will add some perimeter scoring pop to the team. As a junior, she scored 19 points per game despite averaging only 14.7 minutes of playing time. She also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season. "We're excited to have Adelaide join the Pack," head coach Wes Moore said in a press release. "Her ability to score the ball at all three levels and stretch a defense will be a welcome addition. The work she has put in the past few years makes her more college-ready than the average freshman, and I know that same work ethic will continue to raise her game and make us better." Jernigan's recruitment came down to three schools — NC State, Kentucky and Michigan. She took visits to all three, including an Aug. 29 official with the Wolfpack. Being a local recruit, she had already spent plenty of time around the program. "All my grandparents live in North Carolina, so they'd be able to come to the games, and then my parents and friends, so that's a big plus," Jernigan said. "I really like that. I just like how they've recruited me since eighth grade. They were my first Power Five offer, so I've really liked them from Day 1." Earlier in the year, it looked like her recruitment would be a battle between the Wolverines and Wolfpack. Michigan hosted her on her final visit Sept. 20-22, and she spent Sept. 6-8 with Kentucky after the Wildcats worked their way back into contention. After her official visit with the Pack, the staff stayed in frequent contact with Jernigan. Moore and assistant Ashley Williams visited one of her tennis matches during the fall and then made an in-home visit just a couple of weeks before her decision. At that point, Jernigan was sold. "I just felt at home," she told On3. "I had always preached that I wanted a family atmosphere, and they had the best atmosphere for that. They all just really were so close to each other, and the coaching staff made me feel so welcome. When they came to my home visit, we just had wonderful conver - sations. It was different. The family atmosphere really was strong, and I think, obviously, playing in front of my family and friends is another thing that is just such a perk." — Ethan McDowell Arizona guard Ky'She Lunan had been hoping to receive an offer from NC State and jumped at the opportunity to join coach Wes Moore's class. PHOTO COURTESY KY'SHE LUNAN Winston-Salem guard Adelaide Jernigan said NC State's proximity to home was a big part of her decision to sign with the Wolfpack. PHOTO COURTESY ADELAIDE JERNIGAN