The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
JULY/AUGUST 2026 ■ 37 ate guard is a decent perimeter shooter who hit 34.5 percent of his three-point attempts last season at Boise State. Wing Starter: Paul McNeil Jr. (6-6, 190) Primary backups: Comeh Emuobor (6-5, 205), R.J. Keene II (6-7, 200) The marquee transfer portal addition (if you want to call it that) was getting McNeil to withdraw from college basketball's open market following Wade's departure from Raleigh. He spent three weeks evaluat- ing his options but opted to return to the Wolfpack for his junior season. McNeil will be the star player on this year's squad. He's most definitely going to be a fan favorite following a breakout sophomore campaign with the Pack. The former top-60 recruit averaged a career- best 13.8 points with an eye-popping 42.7 percent three-point clip. He's looking to improve on those numbers with the NBA in his sights. Emuobor, meanwhile, returns to his hometown to finish his collegiate career after spending the first three years with Central Florida, Iona and New Hamp- shire. The senior is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged a career-best 9.0 points and 4.3 rebounds. Emuobor has a chance to earn critical bench minutes in the offseason and preseason workouts. Power Forward Starter: Robert Jurković (6-9) Primary backups: Eemeli Yalaho (6- 8, 230), Zymicah Wilkins (6-9, 260) NC State hit the international market to bolster its frontcourt by landing Jurković, a member of the Slovenian Senior Na- tional Team. He has a legitimate chance to start at power forward after he shot 38 percent from three-point range with 51 assists in 62 games this past season. The versatile senior is experienced and will fit right in at the collegiate level. Although Jurković is viewed as a pos- sible starter, so is Yalaho. The Washington State transfer averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds with a 39.8 percent mark from three-point range as a junior last season. He's also a multifaceted player in the frontcourt, which will make the com- petition to start at this spot very intrigu- ing as the season approaches. Like McNeil, Wilkins stuck around af- ter Wade left. He will push for playing time as a redshirt freshman, especially with his explosive ability after shedding weight and working on his frame over the past 12 months. Center Starter: Kyle Evans (6-10, 210) Primary backups: Shah Hall (6-11, 240), Robert Jurković (6-9) Evans projects to start at this position after averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds, while leading the na- tion with 115 total blocks last season at UC Irvine. He's an agile player for some- one his size. The graduate student uses two hands to make a lot of his blocks, and he does so without getting into foul trouble. Hall, who will be a redshirt junior next season, comes to NC State from Shel- ton State Community College in Tusca- loosa, Ala., and will give the Pack some much-needed depth at the position. He logged at least 3 blocks in 12 games in his final season of juco basketball, includ- ing a season-best 9 against Bishop State Community College on Feb. 19. By pairing Hall with Evans, NC State's center spot will fit what Gainey is look- ing for from his big men with a defensive mindset. He wants to be an aggressive and physically strong team on that side of the court, and Hall fits that plan with his impressive play defensively. But he isn't just a one-trick pony. Hall is a capable scorer around the rim, usu- ally finishing his shots with a power- ful, rim-rocking dunk. He averaged 9.4 points, including 16 double-figure scor- ing efforts this past season, in addition to his 7.8 rebounds per night. ■ NC State 2026-27 Roster No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Cl. Home High School/Last College 0 Preston Edmead 6-1 170 G So. Deer Park, N.Y. Williston Northampton School/Hofstra 1 Christian Hammond 6-4 195 G R-Jr. Denver, Colo. Dream City Christian/Santa Clara 2 Paul McNeil Jr. 6-6 190 G Jr. Rockingham, N.C. Richmond Senior 3 Eemeli Yalaho 6-8 230 F Sr. Jyväskylä, Finland Western Reserve Academy/Washington State 4 Kingston Whitty 6-2 165 G Fr. Mableton, Ga. Christ School 5 R.J. Keene II 6-7 200 G Gr. The Woodlands, Texas Concordia Lutheran/Boise State 6 Jacari Brim 6-2 190 G So. Winston-Salem, N.C. West Forsyth/App State 10 Comeh Emuobor 6-5 205 F Sr. Raleigh Brewster Academy/New Hampshire 11 Darius Adams 6-5 190 G So. Manchester, N.J. La Lumiere/Maryland 13 Robert Jurković 6-9 — F Sr. Ljubljana, Slovenia 14 Kyle Evans 6-10 210 F Gr. Aliso Viejo, Calif. Santa Margarita Catholic/UC Irvine 21 Shah Hall 6-11 240 F R-Jr. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Hillcrest/Shelton State CC 33 Zymicah Wilkins 6- 9 260 F R-Fr. Rutherfordton, N.C. Christ School One of two returning players on the Wolfpack's 2026-27 roster, wing Paul McNeil Jr. averaged a career-best 13.8 points as a sophomore. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS