The Wolfpacker

July 2014 - Football Preview

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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JULY 2014 ■ 145 ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING NBPA Camp at the University of Virginia from June 17-21. Smith averaged 7.4 points and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 44 percent from the field in five games at the NBPA Camp. The various basketball experiences have been invaluable for Smith. "I learned that I need to get my teammates more involved and be more assertive out there on the court with great players," Smith said. "I have to work on that." Smith knows playing at Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian or with Team Loaded NC is one style of basketball. Playing with EuroCamp teammates such as No. 24-ranked Kinston (N.C.) High senior small forward Brandon Ingram, No. 11-ranked Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler senior small forward Jaylen Brown and No. 3-ranked Martinsville (Va.) Carlisle School junior center Thon Maker is an- other dynamic. Ironically, Smith, Brown, Ingram and Maker all took part in the 2013 HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational Dec. 26-28 at Raleigh Broughton High. "It's really different because I know that I'm not going to take all the shots and that there are players that can score as good as me," Smith said. "I don't have to carry a team and the other players can help me out. It is easier to play with other players who are tops in the nation." The Holiday Invitational proved to be Smith's spectacular introduction to fans around the state. Gottfried quickly offered him Dec. 28 during the event, and the life- long Wolfpack fan was thrilled with the news. Much in his basketball recruiting life has changed since then, but that first ACC offer still holds meaning. "That was a big memory in my life," Smith said. "That was a really big offer for me. They've been selling me on how the program can help me out a lot, and on help- ing me get to the NBA." Gottfried was one of many coaches that talked to Smith June 15, the start date for unlimited texting and calling to class of 2016 prospects. He also unofficially visited NCSU June 24. "They tell me how they could just put me in at point guard and I could help the team in their system," Smith said. "It means some- thing that they see my game and haven't of- fered me because other schools have. They know my game." Another humbling experience is having offers from NC State, Duke, North Caro- lina, Wake Forest, Florida, Kansas, Florida State (for both hoops and football), VCU and Charlotte. Michigan and Texas are also showing interest, and Smith is hoping that Kentucky jumps in. Smith, Ingram and No. 2-ranked High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian junior power forward Harry Giles all have offers from all four in-state ACC colleges, and Smith is pondering playing with the duo one day. "I'd like to do a package deal with Harry Giles because I want to play with him," Smith said. "I'd like to play with Harry and probably Brandon Ingram." Jamal Murray Is Blazing A Different Path In Canada Syracuse freshman point guard Tyler En- nis, Kansas freshman small forward Andrew Wiggins and Michigan sophomore shoot- ing guard Nik Stauskas are the most recent wave of Canadian talent that starred at U.S. colleges. All three were selected in the first round of this year's NBA Draft. Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ontario, one of the top up-and-coming players in Canada and a NC State offer holder, hopes to match the success of his countrymen. What makes Murray unique is that instead of heading to the U.S. for high school — like Staus- kas, Ennis and Wiggins — he has attended Athlete Institute Academy in Orangeville, Ontario. The hope for the future is that players of Murray's caliber will have a viable op- tion for playing high school basketball in Canada, so they can be with their family and friends during their formative years. "This has been great and one of the main reasons that I came here," Murray said. "It's close to home and I can still see my parents, and my dad for training. I've been able to keep my grades up, and it has worked out. It's just a perfect fit for me right now." Murray burst onto the scene in the U.S. during the Jordan Brand Classic Interna- tional game April 14, 2013, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He scored a game-high 24 points to earn co-MVP honors in a 76-72 loss. His play with CIA Bounce last year further es- tablished that he was going to be highly recruited, whether he played high school ball in the U.S. or Canada. "I can do a little bit of everything, and I'm just an all-around player in all aspects of the game," Murray said. "There is always a way to improve everything, and shot percentage is one of them. I'm trying to be a true point guard and learn more ways to use my skill." Athletes Institute coach Larry Blunt, who is from Courtland, Va., and was an assistant coach at Shaw University in Raleigh, has watched Murray's game continue to evolve since the Jordan Brand Classic International game. "He is a special kid when he came here in the fall, and he just continues to improve," Blunt said. "He is going to be a coast-to- coast recruit." Rivals.com ranks the physical, 6-5, 185-pound floor general as the No. 18 over- all prospect in the class of 2016. Murray has earned offers from NC State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Virginia and Illinois, plus interest from Michigan, Georgetown, Lou- isville, Syracuse and others. Murray, who has attended games at NC State, Michigan, Georgetown and Syra- cuse, is taking the recruiting process in stride. "I just put it in the hands of my coach and parents. I'm taking the time and op- portunity to let myself, grow and develop as an individual, and work on my academics," Murray said. "I don't really pay attention to recruiting." Murray and Athlete Institute Academy played in various events in the U.S., includ- ing in Charlotte, which gave him the chance to watch NC State host Eastern Kentucky Nov. 30. "That was a good game, and I got to see the facility and locker room," Murray said. "It seems like a great program, and they take Rivals.com lists Smith, who is a lifelong Wolfpack fan, as a five-star prospect and the No. 16 overall player in the 2016 class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Murray, who is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 18 overall player in the rising junior class, has earned offers from NC State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Virginia and Illinois, plus interest from Michigan, Georgetown, Lou- isville and Syracuse. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM 144-147.BB Recruiting.indd 145 6/26/14 4:22 PM

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