The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
132 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State might not have a verbal com‑ mitment for the class of 2015, but that hasn't slowed down the Wolfpack's ability to recruit ahead. NCSU has at least four scholarships at its disposal for the class of 2015, and the number used will help dictate how many will be free for the class of 2016. The state of North Carolina features three juniors that are ranked in the top seven in the country, and head coach Mark Gottfried and his staff did a great job of having all three unofficially visit NC State this fall. Rivals.com No. 2 overall player Harry Giles, a power forward from High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian; No. 5 Dennis Smith Jr., a point guard from Fay‑ etteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian; and No. 7 Edrice Adebayo, a center from Pinetown (N.C.) Northside, all attended the Florida State at NC State football game Sept. 27. Smith and Adebayo went to the Geor‑ gia Southern at NC State season opener Aug. 30, and Adebayo attended Throwback With The Pack Oct. 17 at historic Reynolds Coliseum. Getting players from outside the region is a little harder for unofficial visits, where the recruit pays his own way to see a college. However, Adebayo wasn't the only attendee of note at Throwback With The Pack. Brooklyn, N.Y., junior shooting guard Rawle Alkins of Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King made his first unofficial visit to NC State, and came away im‑ pressed with the history of the program and how the current team appeared. The 6‑4, 215‑pound Alkins, who is ranked No. 29 overall in the country in the class of 2016, experienced the Wolfpack's past, but also got a detailed look at what his future would look like in Raleigh. "They run the same plays that my high school team runs," Alkins said. "I was watching the game, and I was like, 'Oh, my team runs the same play.' "Coach [Mark] Gottfried is a really cool guy. He was telling me I could be the next T.J. Warren. He was showing me every offensive play they ran through T.J., and basically put me in that same situation. "There are a lot of great guys that have come out of that school. Throwback was good and they have a lot of fans. It's a great place to be." NC State has done a good job of making Alkins feel like a priority after offering him June 19. The Wolfpack coaches followed him during the July evaluation period and checked on his progress this fall at Christ the King. NCSU assistant coach Rob Mox‑ ley is the point man on the recruitment. "I am flattered because NC State is a fun school and a great school to be at," Alkins said. "They have great guys and great play‑ ers on and off the court. They have very cool guys that are fun to talk to and hang out with." Alkins was able to interact with fresh‑ man twin brothers Ca‑ leb Martin and Cody Martin during his unof‑ ficial visit. "I talked to the twins a lot," Alkins said. "I hung out with them the whole day, and they are cool guys." NC State has had a long tradition of players from New York, includ‑ ing Moe Rivers on the 1974 national champi‑ onship team, and Lo‑ renzo Charles and Ernie Myers on the 1983 title squad, plus legendary coach Jim Valvano was from the Empire State. Tom Gugliotta, Julius Hodge and Gavin Grant are also part of the New York‑to‑Raleigh pipe‑ line. Hodge was an em‑ cee at Throwback With The Pack. "Julius Hodge went to our rival school, St. Raymond's [in the Bronx]," Alkins said. "I didn't talk any trash with him about that." NC State, Indiana, Miami, Florida, Kansas, Louisville, Cincinnati, Fordham, George Washington, Hofstra, Minnesota, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida and Villanova have all offered Alkins. He also attended practice festivities at Seton Hall, Villanova and Indiana this fall. Colleges are attracted to Alkins' com‑ bination of strong build, good skills and high energy. "I play hard every time I step on the floor," Alkins said. "I'm just a great com‑ petitor. I compete no matter where I am. It could be against LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. I'm also athletic, can play defense and can hit both three‑ pointers and mid‑range shots. "I might not do everything perfect, but I can do it at 85 percent overall. There is nothing really in my game that I am ter‑ rible at." Alkins helped lead Christ the King to back‑to‑back state titles and wants to go 4 for 4 in his prep career. Alkins has done a good job of handling the pressure of being anointed the next great player in a basket‑ ball‑mad city. "It's an honor to be considered the next one up," Alkins said. "There are a lot of great guys that played at Christ the King. I just take things in and don't think too much about the attention. I just act like a regular person. We call it 'Hollywood,' and I don't really act like I'm Hollywood. I treat everyone the same." Alkins has a strong upper body and big hands, which com‑ bined with a good first step and a solid jump shot make him a highly sought‑after prospect. "When I'm bigger and have little guards on me, I post them up," Alkins said. "If I have a bigger guard on me, I feel like that I can go by them." Alkins was one of the top stars on the adidas circuit. He averaged 18.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and shot 49.3 per‑ cent from the field and 37.2 percent from three‑point range in 10 adidas Gauntlet games for the New York Rens. "When I'm with the Rens, I play more and a lot of the plays are for me," Alkins said. "At an all‑star camp, you just have to go and get it. It's like basketball in the park. There is more structure and plays with New York Rens. "I want to show that I'm one of the top players in the country." Top Juniors To Watch Alkins isn't the only elite prospect who has unofficially visited NC State over the last year. Here is a rundown of 10 class of 2016 standouts who have made the trip to Raleigh, in the order of their Rivals.com ranking (which is listed first). 1. Thon Maker, center/power forward, ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING Armed With Scholarships, NC State Is Focusing On The Junior Class Rawle Alkins, a 6‑4, 215‑pound guard from Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King High who is ranked as the No. 29 overall player in the junior class, unofficially visited NC State for the Throwback With The Pack Oct. 17. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM