The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540860
BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN hen NC State s o p h o m o r e guard Zamar- eya Jones sat down for an i n t e r v i e w at the ACC Tipoff me- dia event in early October, her eyes lit up when posed a simple qu estion: "Is there someone on the team that the media isn't talking about enough?" the conference moderater asked. "Someone you think after a couple of games everyone is going to know?" Jones didn't hesitate. The Wolfpack had just such a player, she said. Her name was Khamil Pierre. "A lot of people know that she came from Vanderbilt, but I don't feel like she got the rec - ognition she really needed [there]," Jones said. "I feel like her coming here, she's definitely going to show peo- ple she's like that." A few months ago, Pierre never would have expected that she'd be where she is now — a preseason All-ACC honoree go- ing into her first campaign at NC State. She had averaged 20.4 points — on 49.8 percent shooting — and 9.6 rebounds in a breakout sophomore season with the Commodores and fully expected to be back in Nashville for her junior year. However, a tumultuous summer changed those plans, altering the course of her career in the process. There were times when the 6-foot-2 forward ques- tioned her future in the sport, but having re-emerged from that difficult transi- tion, she's ready to shine in Raleigh. "A lot of people will have their own opinion on you and almost make you doubt yourself, but after my time in the SEC, if I figured out anything, it's that I'm more than capable, regardless of what people think," Pierre said. "It's just business out here, but that's why I'm excited to come to a new confer- ence. I understand I was able to perform at a very high level in the top confer- ence, so I'm very confident that it will translate here." W Pierre will be making her NC State debut after averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore with Vanderbilt last season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS A FRESH A FRESH START START Khamil Pierre Is Eager To Revive Khamil Pierre Is Eager To Revive Her Basketball Career at NC State Her Basketball Career at NC State 34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER