The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER clip, including a 42.7 percent three- point mark, in a breakout sophomore season a year ago. McNeil isn't satisfied, though. He yearns for more, which is a key trait that intrigued Gainey as he got to know the star perimeter player this offseason. "What was really big for him was devel- opment. He wanted to get better," Gainey said. "Here is the best three-point shooter in the ACC — one of the best shooters that I've ever been around — talking about how he can grow his game, improve his game and add to his game. To have been around him these seven months and to see how intentional and focused he's been on development has been impressive." McNeil focused on improving his de- fense while adding more of a three-level scoring ability to his repertoire over the last six months. While McNeil will be a key part of NC State's backcourt this season under Gainey, the Wolfpack signed several other standouts, as well. Hofstra transfer point guard Preston Edmead was a key addition the program inked coming off a strong freshman sea- son during which he posted 16.1 points, 4.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game en route to an NCAA Tournament bid. Gainey, a former point guard himself, radiated excitement about Edmead. "He is special," Gainey said. "He's quick, he's fast, he can really shoot the basketball. He's getting better as a fa- cilitator and playmaker; he wants to be better there. But I think his best attri- bute is his toughness. That kid is tough. He never wants to miss a practice, he never wants to miss a drill. … He eats, drinks, sleeps basketball." Edmead, who was named the CAA Rookie of the Year last season, wasn't alone in the big-time backcourt build. Maryland transfer Darius Adams, a former McDonald's All-American, and Santa Clara transfer Christian Ham- mond are both expected to play critical roles at shooting guard. Adams is looking to bounce back after an up-and-down freshman campaign in which he averaged 10.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 35.4 percent from the field. Hammond, meanwhile, averaged 15.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game to help Sendek and the Bron- cos reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years. Additionally, Boise State transfer R.J. 2026-27 NC State Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 2 Campbell (ACCNX) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 East Tennessee State (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 10 Presbyterian (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 13 Troy (ACCN) 7 p.m. Nov. 19 vs. Murray State^ (CBSSN) 6 p.m. Nov. 20 vs. Seton Hall or Wisconsin^ (CBSSN) 7 or 9:30 p.m. Nov. 25 Norfolk State (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Nov. 28 Elon (ACCNX) 12 p.m. Dec. 1 South Carolina+ (ACCN) 7 p.m. Dec. 6 vs. Tennessee% (ESPN) 7 p.m. Dec. 11 UNCG† (ACCN) 7 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. North Carolina$ (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. Ole Miss& (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Dec. 22 Alabama A&M (ACCNX) 1 p.m. Dec. 29 at Miami* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Jan. 2 Clemson* (ACCN) 1 p.m. Jan. 6 Pitt* (ESPN2/ESPNU) 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at North Carolina* (ESPN2) 12 p.m. Jan. 12 SMU* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 19 at Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 23 Wake Forest* (The CW) 12 p.m. Jan. 27 at Cal* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 30 at Stanford* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Feb. 3 Florida State* (ESPN2/U) 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at Wake Forest* (ACCN) 7 p.m. Feb. 13 Boston College* (The CW) 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Virginia Tech* (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Feb. 20 Cal* (The CW) 12 p.m. Feb. 24 Notre Dame* (ACCN) 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Duke* (ESPN) 12 p.m. March 2 Louisville* (TBD)) 7 p.m. March 6 at Virginia* (The CW) 12 p.m. Mar. 9-13 ACC Tournament$ TBD ^ Baha Mar Championship, Nassau, Bahamas; + ACC/SEC Challenge; † at Reynolds Coliseum; % at Nashville, Tenn.; $ at Greensboro, N.C.; & at Jackson, Miss.; * ACC game; ACCN = ACC Net- work; ACCNX = ACC Network Extra; CBSSN = CBS Sports Network Fifth-year forward Ven-Allen Lubin returns for a second season in Raleigh after shooting 66.8 percent from the field, which ranked third nationally and set the record for the highest single-season field goal percentage in school history. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS