The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/337646
144 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State has been searching high and low for point and combo guards this spring and summer. The Wolfpack pursued seniors such as Raleigh product Devonte Graham and Wax- haw, N.C., native and former Wake For- est signee Shelton Mitchell in the class of 2014. Graham officially visited NC State, Virginia and Kansas, but picked the Jay- hawks over the Wolfpack May 2. The court- ship of Mitchell didn't get as advanced. He officially visited Vanderbilt and Missouri, and then picked the Commodores May 23. Another target would have been a nice addition even though he wasn't going to be able to help NC State next year. Combo guard Seth Allen, a sophomore at Maryland this past season, opted to transfer and nar- rowed his list to NC State, Virginia and Vir- ginia Tech. The Fredericksburg, Va., native visited his two in-state options and picked the Hokies May 10. Other phone calls were placed, but noth- ing else materialized. As a result, the Wolf- pack staff turned its attention to landing a point or combo guard in the 2015 and 2016 classes. The following is a look at four of the Wolfpack's top backcourt targets — one senior combo guard and a trio of talented junior point guards — going into the July evaluation period. Eric Davis Has Comfort Level With NC State Saginaw (Mich.) Arthur Davis senior combo guard Eric Davis feels good about his two-year recruiting relationship with NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. The Wolfpack has been following him ever since a fall workout in September of his sopho- more year at Arthur Hill. Davis was last in Raleigh to watch Missouri take on NC State at PNC Arena Dec. 28, 2013. "He and I talk a lot, and I talk to all the coaches and assistant coaches," Davis said. "It is a good relationship. Coach Gottfried is a great guy, and I really enjoy talking to him." Rivals.com ranks Davis as the No. 34 overall player in the class of 2015. The 6-3, 181-pounder has the ability to play both guard positions, and gives a team a second ball handler and passer when paired with a point guard due to his high basketball IQ. "I just score the ball so well in a variety of ways," Davis said. "I want to be inter- changeable like a Stephen Curry [of Golden State Warriors] and Kyrie Irving [of Cleve- land Cavaliers]. I want to get my teammates involved and get them the ball. I want them to get good looks." Davis showed why NC State has put in the time and effort during a massive out- burst at the NBPA Camp, which took place June 17-21 at the University of Virginia. Davis exploded for 32 points June 19, and showcased his complete offensive game for his Mavericks camp team. He shot 9 of 20 from the field, 4 of 10 from three-point range and 10 of 12 from the free throw line in a 78-69 win over the Bulls. He added three assists, three steals and four rebounds for good measure. Davis wasn't doing it against just anyone. The Bulls featured senior guards such as No. 43-ranked Perry Dozier of Columbia, S.C., No. 51-ranked Bryant Crawford of Sil- ver Springs, Md., and No. 137-ranked Malik Beasley of Alpharetta, Ga. (who will likely rise to top-60 status), plus No. 8-ranked star junior De'Aaron Fox of Katy, Texas. Dozier, Crawford and Beasley are all past or current NC State targets. Davis finished the camp averaging 12.0 points per game, while shooting 42.9 per- cent from the field and 25.0 from three-point range. He added 15 assists in eight camp games. "My shots haven't been falling consis- tently," Davis said. "I am just keeping faith and staying positive, knowing that my shot will fall sooner than later." Davis said he'd like to officially visit UCLA and UNLV in the fall, but remains undecided on his three other official vis- its. He has unofficially visited NC State three times, and has checked out home state Michigan and Michigan State. Davis is also considering Florida and Kansas amongst his 18 total offers. "My options are open, and I'm open to anyone," Davis said. "I'm not leaning toward anyone yet, but I'll trim my list down after July. Staying close to home won't be a factor. Whatever is the best fit for me, then that is going to be the best fit." NCSU coaches tracked him during the last evaluation period at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League April 25-27 in Sac- ramento, Calif. Davis finished the EYBL regular season with a scoring average of 17.1 points per game, and he shot 47.3 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three- point land in 16 contests for The Family traveling team (8-8 record). Interacting more with head coaches is the next step in Davis' recruitment. "After July, I'll probably will be talking more with head coaches," he said. "I love the assistant coaches as well. If it wasn't for them reaching out to me, then the head coaches wouldn't get the players that they get. I'll still be in contact with all of them." Dennis Smith Jr. Exploded Onto The Scene Dennis Smith Jr., a 6-2, 170-pound point guard who is currently ranked No. 16 overall in the class of 2016 by Rivals.com, was part of an adidas all-star team that took part in the Euro Camp June 7-9 at the La Ghirada Sports Complex in Treviso, Italy, which is a long ways away from his hometown of Godwin, N.C. (just northeast of Fayetteville). The adidas all-star team is just another example of basketball taking Smith to places all over the U.S., and now the world. Smith said the style of basketball was also different with few isolation plays. "I learned a lot being in a different country and facing adversity," Smith said. "The foods were different, but it was a fun experience. "I'm just a kid that usually stays in my hometown, and doesn't go out and expe- rience things like that. I never knew how basketball could be that global and could take you to different places. It's a humbling experience." Smith returned from Europe and spent a few days at home before going to the ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING NC State Actively Pursuing Several Elite Guards The Wolfpack has been recruiting Davis, the No. 34 overall player in the class of 2015 according to Rivals.com, for two years and has developed a good relationship with him. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM 144-147.BB Recruiting.indd 144 6/26/14 4:22 PM