30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER
One of two returning players on the Pack's 2026-27 roster, guard Paul McNeil Jr. tied a
school single-season record as a sophomore with 105 made three-pointers.
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS
CHANGING CHANGING
TIMES TIMES
Along With A New Coaching Staff,
NC State Will Have An Overhauled
Roster In 2026-27
BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN
hen Will Wade bolted for LSU fol-
lowing his lone season at NC State,
the Wolfpack turned to former point
guard Justin Gainey to be the next
leader of the program. Once he arrived
at his alma mater, the former Tennes-
see associate head coach went to work
in crafting his inaugural roster.
Here's a look at the longtime assistant's first squad as
a head coach at the collegiate level, a team that he and
his staff were still working to complete as of early May
with six scholarship spots still available.
CORE PLAYERS
Paul McNeil Jr., Preston Edmead,
Christian Hammond
NC State's centerpieces of the current roster build
are in the backcourt. Not only did the Wolfpack reel
McNeil back in from the transfer portal, but it added a
pair of effective three-point shooters to play alongside
him with Edmead and Hammond.
W
