The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/223560
■ basketball recruiting You worked your way through NCSU, one of America's great universities. Why then, would you take your professional or personal taxes to someone who graduated from Taxmart U? Les Merritt CPA-CFP NCSU Graduate Certified Public Accountant Certified Financial Planner Your CPA! les@lesmerrittcpa-cfp.com (919) 269-8553 1014 N. Arendell Avenue Zebulon, NC 27597 "It was amazing to me because he wasn't eating from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at night, nor drinking any water," recalled Gottfried. "He still played at a high level. I was impressed with the kind of self discipline a young person needs to do that, especially away from home on the road." The Wolfpack has been able to recruit players from all parts of the country under Gottfried. "The new ACC with Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pitt and Louisville to the existing ACC has made a difference for kids like him," Gottfried said. "This league makes sense for him, more so than the SEC or Big Ten. It's a direct result of the expansion of the league for us to get him. "The quicker Malik can learn our system and get acclimated to what we do, the better. He has some unique skills coming in with his speed, size, quickness and motor." Abu's college-ready body should help with the transition, but the usual adjustments to the physicality of college basketball will still need to be made. "What I like about Abu is that while I think he is physically ready and a strong kid, but when he gets into a college weight room, he has the kind of body to flourish," Bossi said. "I don't see any issues there. He is a little undersized at power forward, but I think he compensates for that. "He has a tremendous motor, and just as important, he has a good feel for where loose balls end up with rebounds. He is a ball magnet and anticipates where the ball is going to be. That will bode well for playing right away." Caleb and Cody Martin started to emerge during the spring of their freshman year at Davie County. NCSU assistant coaches Bobby Lutz and Rob Moxley were just settling into their new jobs, but started to prioritize the duo. Caleb has settled in at shooting guard, while Cody primarily plays small forward. "I fell in love with both Caleb and Cody quickly," Gottfried said. "They are really athletic, and what I like about Caleb and Cody is that they play the game to win. Some kids are caught up in position and where do I play? I don't think they get caught up at all. They just want to win." While some NC State incoming freshmen don't know much about the program before they arrive, that won't be the case with the Martin twins. They've been semi-regulars at games the last two years, and know the schemes, directions to PNC Arena and their way around Raleigh. Both Martin twins can handle the ball, have good vision passing and are unselfish teammates. "They both love to defend, and if they 68 ■ the wolfpacker 66-69.BKB Recruiting.indd 68 12/5/13 2:50 PM