The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 33 as the team worked through an up-and- down nonconference season, Copeland was able to find his footing to help take pressure off the rest of his teammates. Liberty coach Ritchie McKay, who watched Copeland post 11 points and 7 rebounds against his Flames last season at McNeese, left the Pack's 85-45 win over his squad impressed with what he saw from the gritty yet smart guard. "He's their engine," McKay said. "And Will [Wade] knows it. Put the ball in his hands, and he can create for himself or a teammate. He's unselfish. He knows how to play. He sees the game. He's unbelievably good defensively, great hands, and he's tough and physical. "He's the kind of dude that you get mad at coaching against, but you want him on your team." An Asset For Wade The relationship between Copeland and Wade is indicative of the type of people they truly are. The two person- alities clashed at the beginning of their t e n u r e t o g e t h e r at McNeese — so much so that Co- peland wasn't even viewed as being a rotation player in the Cowboys' preseason camp last fall. Soon enough, however, the two started to click. They withstood the rocky part of their relationship and forged a bond that figures to last long past Copeland's playing career under Wade. The pair know each other well after the Syracuse transfer served as McNeese's go-to point guard for much of last season's 28-7 campaign, which featured a first-round NCAA Tourna- ment victory over Clemson. When Copeland tagged along to join Wade at NC State, he knew one of his immediate roles would be to educate his teammates about what the Wolfpack's new head coach was looking for, both on and off the practice court. "Being his point guard last year, it made everything easier," Copeland said. "My translation will be easier for them, and the guys get it." Copeland's willingness to take on that role allowed his new NC State team- mates to feel as if they knew what was coming and what exactly Wade meant if he delivered coaching points with a fiery yell, something he does from time to time on the court. In the process, the veteran guard became a key leader for the Wolfpack. "He's been super helpful," said red- shirt freshman forward Colt Langdon, a Raleigh native who returned home af- ter a year at Butler. "He's been a great leader for our team, a very vocal leader. Him being through it with Coach Wade this past year has been huge for the ex- perience of our team." While he was helping smooth the coaching transition, Copeland was also winning over teammates with his mag- netic personality. He's a high-energy presence, usually wearing a smile on the court, though an intense scowl may appear when he gets heated. Copeland's outgoing nature was critical in the early stages of the preseason. "He was like the icebreaker for every- body when they first got here," said red- shirt junior guard Terrance Arceneaux, a transfer from Houston. "His character and how he presents himself are hilari- ous. He made moments that feel like, 'Oh, man, we've got to do this and that' into laughable, enjoyable moments. He's definitely exciting, and we're glad he's here." Wade knew what he was getting into when he brought Copeland with him from McNeese. Copeland, who aver- aged 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 21.9 minutes per game as the Cowboys' main ball handler a year ago, has a unique way of connecting with his teammates. And Copeland still, somehow, ex- ceeded Wade's expectations at NC State. "Quadir has been incredible," Wade said. "The biggest thing he does is that he gives everybody confidence. When he's out there — now, he's talking a lot — but he gives guys confidence when he's playing with them." Confidence Builder Copeland has turned into the Pack's go-to playmaker on offense with his ability to whip passes all around the court. His vision is unlike most players of his size, and yet he makes the correct reads with a crisp delivery on the other end. As a result, Copeland led the Wolf- pack with 5.2 assists through the first 11 games, a figure that ranked eighth in the ACC, while he logged six games with 6 or more assists. "The team has trusted me with the ball, trusting I'll make the right deci- sions. That's all it really comes down to," said Copeland, who also averaged 14.2 points as the Pack's second-leading scorer. "We're a new team. We're also still understanding each other. We did have the summer, but we're still under- standing each other with live basket- ball against other people." While Copeland isn't a traditional point guard, he's been able to flour- ish running the offense. Wade put him in that role at McNeese a year ago out of necessity when Alyn Breed went down with a season-ending injury. Although turnovers were a problem — he com- mitted 2.8 per game — Copeland was effective at setting up his teammates, averaging 4.5 assists per outing. That level of play followed in his trek to Raleigh. Copeland's confidence is always sky high, and it seemed to rub off onto the rest of the NC State squad through its 7-4 start. "The energy is through the roof. He just instills confidence in everybody," freshman guard Matt Able said. "I really look up to him. In the college world, he's really helped me a lot. That's my guy. He instills confidence in the whole team, and I really love him." Copeland has embraced his role on the team. Some might have thought he'd be the glue guy off the bench this season, but instead he's turned into a critical part of the offense — and one of " Quadir has been incredible. The biggest thing he does is that he gives everybody confidence." Coach Will Wade on Copeland Copeland played for Will Wade last year at McNeese and knows what the first-year Wolfpack coach is looking for. Through 11 games, he was averaging 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS