The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK BASKETBALL PREVIEW zip up and down the floor, but the college game is a little different. He had to learn the position a little bit more. How to run a team, how to be a quarterback, and he's done a pretty good job of that through the offseason." The 6-4, 200-pound Lee wants to finish his Wolfpack career on a high note. The elder statesmen on the squad, he started 19 out of 36 games last year. The junior col- lege transfer averaged 8.4 points and shot 39.1 percent from the field and 28.0 per- cent on three-pointers. He cracked double figures in 17 games, with a season-high 24 against Appalachian State in the season- opener Nov. 8. He also had an ACC-best 18 points, proving to be the main offensive player in the second half of an eventual 84- 70 loss at North Carolina Feb. 1. "It usually takes guys that play junior college basketball a good year under their belt to perform at this level," Gottfried said. "When you are talking about playing in the ACC, it is much different than it was at New Mexico Junior College. The competi- tion in practice every day [is different] and what is expected of you every single day and how to perform, compete and play hard every day." Gottfried said Lee's defensive skills could help him carve out a crucial role this season. "Desmond took that role and responsi- bility, and this year he could do more with that," Gottfried said. "I think he under- stands who he is at this level and what he has to do to help us win. I'm excited for him and hope he has a good year this year as a senior." The veteran trio of Turner, Lee and Lacey are all seniors academically, but Gottfried doesn't want them to get too comfortable. That is because of the long- awaited arrival of 6-6, 200-pound twin brothers Caleb Martin and Cody Martin, who both verbally committed to NCSU on Oct. 10, 2012. Rivals.com ranked Caleb as the No. 60 overall player in the class of 2014, and Cody checked in at No. 81. The Mocksville, N.C., products spent their senior year at famed Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, leading the Warriors to a 41-5 record and No. 4 national ranking. Caleb Martin was affected by a foot in- jury that dated back to his junior year at Mocksville Davie County High, and under- went surgery June 28, causing him to miss summer workouts in Raleigh. The twins are similar in their approach to the game on the court, though Caleb Martin usually spends more time shooting three-pointers, and Cody Martin slashes to the basket and hits the boards. "I think Cody and Caleb can push those guys," said Gottfried, who added that he could tell them apart. "That will make ev- erybody better in the gym. "Cody goes to the glass and gets offen- sive rebounds, and uses his length. Cody in the last year has really improved. "Both these two guys have a chance to be really good. They are a little different. Caleb was more of a standstill shooter and Cody more of a driver. Cody has improved his three-point shooting, so he has gotten better there." The NC State big men are looking for- ward to meshing with the revamped perim- eter group. "Trevor is going to be great, can dis- tribute and is a born leader," Washington said. "He will come down and tell the team what to do. "Cat has been more of a distributor, which will take his game to the next level. Desmond has really improved a lot and his jump shot has been more reliable. His confidence has skyrocketed. "The twins play extremely hard and they are in the gym all the time. They are … slashers and can do a lot of different things." ■ ■ 2014-15 NC State Backcourt No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School) 1 Trevor Lacey PG/SG 6-3 213 R-Jr. Huntsville, Ala. (Alabama) 3 Terry Henderson* SG 6-4 190 Jr. Raleigh (West Virginia) 4 Chris Brickhouse SF 6-5 210 So. Raleigh (Broughton) 5 Desmond Lee SG 6-4 200 Sr. Norfolk, Va. (New Mexico JC) 12 Anthony Barber PG 6-2 180 So. Hampton, Va. (Hampton) 13 Chris Corchiani Jr. PG 6-0 180 Fr. Raleigh (Ravenscroft) 14 Caleb Martin SG 6-6 200 Fr. Mocksville, N.C. (Oak Hill Academy [Va.]) 15 Caleb Martin SF 6-6 200 Fr. Mocksville, N.C. (Oak Hill Academy [Va.]) 20 Patrick Wallace PG 6-1 185 So. Charlotte (Brewster Academy [N.H.]) 22 Ralston Turner SG 6-5 205 5th-Sr. Muscle Shoals, Ala. (LSU) 25 Chase Cannon SG 6-5 200 Jr. Morehead City, N.C. (The Miller School [Va.]) 30 Staats Battle SG 6-6 203 Sr. Raleigh (Broughton) * Will redshirt this season due to NCAA transfer rules Senior Desmond Lee scored in double figures in 17 games and averaged 8.4 points per contest in 2013-14. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN