The Wolfpacker

32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JACEY ZEMBAL I n each of Mark Gottfried's first three seasons at the helm of the program, the Wolfpack has advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The head coach also has built up some momentum on the recruiting trail, landing three straight Rivals.com top- 20 classes with the signing of a versatile trio in 2014. The three-man group — Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy power forward Abdul-Malik Abu, and Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy wings and identical twin brothers Caleb and Cody Martin — was ranked No. 19 as a class by Rivals.com, while each player was rated among the top 81 prospects in the country. The 6-8, 230-pound Abu, who is from Boston, was ranked No. 45 by Rivals.com, while Caleb Martin was No. 60 and Cody Martin No. 81. Add in Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey, who was a two-year starter, and the Wolfpack will have a group of new- comers ready to make an impact. All three prep players lived away from home their senior years, with the 6-6, 192-pound Martin twins hailing from Mocksville, N.C. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Eric Bossi has watched the Martin twins grow up the last three years and has caught Abu in action for over two years. "It's a good group," Bossi said. "They are all blue-collar guys who play pretty hard on both ends of the floor. They have a pretty good level of athleticism to their games. "Abu is going to work the glass hard and has extended his range out to 15 feet with the jump shot. Cody and Caleb are pretty similar wings, who thrive attacking the bas- ket and are pretty good defenders." Veteran recruiting analyst Frank Burlison of BurlisononBasketball.com has watched Abu and the Martin twins play live numer- ous times. He believes the class will help NC State keep pace with ACC squads such as Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Louis- ville and Syracuse. "T.J. Warren was such a huge scorer for them that they'll need multiple sources to score," Burlison said. "People have also for- gotten how good Lacey was and is. They should be a deeper team. "Abu has a big body, is a rebounder and is physical. The Martin twins are active, quick and dynamic. They'll be good." Caleb tends to drift more to the perimeter, and Cody complements him by working the paint and mid-range area more. Both have the potential to be excellent college defenders with their athleticism, timing and wingspan. "Sometimes Caleb will settle too much for the deep jumper, while Cody is more of a tougher scorer around the basket," Bossi said. "They each have gotten bigger and stronger in high school. Both were probably more natural power forwards in the ninth grade before expanding their games." Caleb Martin reinjured his foot for a sec- ond time and shut it down last summer, and Cody Martin fell in the rankings to No. 106 following the July evaluation period. The year at Oak Hill, which had four nationally televised games between ESPNU and ESPN, helped the Martins improve as players. "They looked like they were plateauing a little bit before their senior year," Bossi said. Maintaining the MoMentuM NC State Lands Its Third Consecutive Top-20 Recruiting Haul Twin brothers Caleb (in front) and Cody Martin, who both measure in at 6-6, 192 pounds, played together at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where they helped lead the Warriors to a final record of 41-4 in the 2013-14 season. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN "It's a good group. They are all blue-collar guys who play pretty hard on both ends of the floor. They have a pretty good level of athleticism to their games." ■ Rivals.com recruiting analyst Eric Bossi on NC State's 2014 class 32-33.BKB Recruiting Overview.indd 32 4/29/14 1:25 PM

• Cover