The Wolfpacker

44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE outside its area this past season, and few college coaches have made their way out to see him despite his lofty ranking. Wolfpack head man Mark Gottfried was able to make quite a first impression on his inaugural trip to watch Adebayo play this winter. Adebayo and Northside cruised to a 76-51 win over Chocowinity Southside High Dec. 13, but Gottfried and assistant coach Rob Moxley stole the show by arriv- ing in a helicopter. "I didn't know about it, but then there was a rumor going around school. everyone was talking about the helicopter," Adebayo said. "I didn't know what they were talking about. We were walking outside to get some fresh air, and I saw people crowding around the baseball field. "We went to check it out, and we saw a helicopter coming down. I looked at my coaches, and they said, 'It's NC State.' I was like, 'Wow.'" Gottfried was able to connect with Adebayo and his family right away in the recruiting process. The Wolfpack are po- sitioned well in Adebayo's recruitment moving forward, but he isn't in a hurry to make things happen. "I think he's a pretty good dude and my mom really likes him, too," Adebayo said. "I haven't really thought about a top five, but I do have a top three — NC State, Caro- lina and Duke." NC State was the first ACC college to offer Adebayo, who also thought he had offers from Kentucky, Old Dominion and Norfolk State, among others. North Caro- lina has been actively tracking Adebayo over the last year, and he thinks Duke is also close to offering. Adebayo, who grew up a Tar Heel fan, knows the expectations would be high at NC State, Kentucky, Duke and UNC. "There would be a lot of pressure be- cause if I go there, I'd be in the starting five," Adebayo said. "I have to keep work- ing on my game." Adebayo is the anchor for a talented Boo Williams traveling team, which produced NC State rising sophomore point guard An- thony Barber. Adebayo played mostly on the 15s level last year, but did play up an age division, in the 17s, at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., The experience he gained playing against top-level older competition was invaluable and helped him prepare for this spring and summer in the 17 and under division. "It's a lot different [on 17s] because you have more offense, and everybody can re- ally play," Adebayo said. "On the 15s, only the starting five can play. Now, you have the whole bench and starting five. "Coach Boo [Williams] said I'm the fran- chise player on the team, so there is a lot of pressure on me. I have to step up and show them what I'm made of on the 17s." The athletic Adebayo is a presence on the defensive end, and he can knock down mid-range jumpers on offense. On the pub- lic school level at Northside, he's always a threat to get a triple-double in points, rebounds and blocks. "I'm like the defensive man of the year on the court," said Adebayo, who closely watches NBA stars Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett. "If my man scores, I get really mad. I try to lock down my man. "I want to be a stretch four because I can dribble, shoot and post up." ■ Dennis Smith Jr. Sophomore • Point Guard • Fayetteville Fayetteville Trinity Christian's Smith was the highest-ranked player to play in the Super 60 Showdown March 22 in Win- ston-Salem and the North Carolina Top 80 Camp March 29 in Greensboro, which brought in the majority of the top players in the state of North Carolina. Smith more than lived up to his No. 16 national ranking and five-star status in the class of 2016 at the events. Smith enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, which was capped off by winning the North Carolina Independent Schools 1A state title thanks to some last-second hero- ics in both the semifinals against Charlotte United Faith and the title game against Wil- son Greenfield School. Smith thought the two games were the first time he's won a prep game in the final seconds. His jumper with two seconds left defeated United Faith 82-80 in overtime. Smith followed with two clutch free throws with less than 10 seconds remaining to hold off Greenfield School 64-63. "If there is going to be a big shot, I have to have the confidence to take the shot and make it," Smith said. NC State, VCU and Charlotte have of- fered Smith, who is sure to see his recruit- ment blow up when college coaches can watch him in late April. Smith, who grew up an NC State fan, lamented that the teams recruiting him all fell in heart-breaking fashion in the NCAA Tournament, but he learned from the various situations. NCSU assistant coach Orlando Early is recruiting Smith. "Shooting big free throws, it helps your confidence a lot," Smith said. "When you can step to the line and make free throws, then you can be willing to attack the basket every play. It's a confidence thing to make free throws. "NC State missed a lot of free throws [in its 83-80 overtime loss to Saint Louis in the second round of the NCAA Tournament]. That is why they lost. I watched it on televi- sion, and I was happy the whole game until the last 2:30. It got bad after that." Smith aims to keep working hard this offseason and to play with the Team Loaded NC traveling team to ensure his junior sea- son is better than his breakout sophomore year. He hopes to climb up in the rankings. "I want to be No. 1," Smith said. "I know the guys in front of me." ■ For regular reports on NC State basketball recruiting plus videos of Wolfpack commitments and targets visit TheWolfpacker.com. Dennis Smith Jr. of Fayetteville Trinity Christian has been tabbed as the No. 3 point guard and No. 16 overall player in the sophomore class by Rivals.com. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL 40-42,44.BKB Recruiting Look Ahead.indd 44 4/29/14 3:40 PM

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