The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
48 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK BASKETBALL PREVIEW experience than last year. We have Malik coming in, who is a good high school player, and adjusting to the … game. We've got BeeJay blocking shots, Kyle scoring and me rebounding. We've got a good combina- tion." Freeman used his offseason to improve his offensive skills and not worry about being conservative. "I was known as a defensive player and rebounder last year, but I've been working on my jumper and my free throws," Free- man said. "I just have to be aggressive. I was peaking toward the end because I was aggressive and playing hard." The elbow area has always been the sweet spot in the Wolfpack's UCLA offense. Washington and Abu bring a little bit of a perimeter presence to the offense, and the two used to compete against each other at their respective New England prep schools during the 2012-13 season. "I've been working with reliability with my right hand and being so much lower [in the post]," Washington said. "I watched so much film and I was higher and getting bumped off position and getting bumped off of rebounds [last year]. "Malik is athletic and will be really good. His shot is pretty good and he's a worker. I see him in the gym with me all the time, and I like that a lot." Anya has made the biggest changes phys- ically during the offseason, but Gottfried pointed out that losing weight doesn't mean that his skill level has also changed dramati- cally. It is just part of the process to give him an opportunity to become more offen- sively diverse. "He's done a really nice job and he's lost in between 50 and 60 pounds," Gottfried said. "What I have told BeeJay is that is only step one. Now, it gives him a chance to become a good player. At 350 pounds, he had no chance to become a good player." When former NC State center Richard Howell lost at least 25 pounds, it helped transform his game. Gottfried pointed out that Anya is still raw in some areas of his game, whereas Howell was polished but couldn't do what his mind wanted due to the excess weight. The coaching staff will be helping Anya develop a low-post, go-to move and become an effective mid-range shooter, including at the foul line. The skill development will help him take advantage of having a 7-9 wingspan and 9-3 reach. "The fact that he lost weight is great, but that isn't the end all," Gottfried said. "That doesn't mean that he is now ready to domi- nate in the ACC. He now has to truly learn how to play at this level. He is an unproven player. The fact that he is somewhat lighter will help him." Anya played his best ball in high school at around 270 pounds his junior year at Hyatts- ville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic. He gained close to 80 pounds in less than two years, and Gottfried said he was playing at 349 pounds at times last season. Gottfried is hopeful Anya can lose even more weight to get back to being the player he first evaluated at DeMatha Catholic. Ri- vals.com ranked him as the No. 58 overall player in the class of 2013, but at one point he was a top-20 prospect. "He has to learn how to be a good de- fender, learn how to be a good scorer in our league and become a better foul shooter," Gottfried said. "He still needs to lose an- other 15-20 pounds and get himself into great basketball shape." The 6-8, 240-pound Abu is expected to be an instant contributor. He is comfortable facing up a defensive player from around 18 feet, and can either back down for a soft hook shot in the lane or make a mid-range jump shot. He also is known for cleaning the boards and being a solid shot blocker. "Abdul-Malik Abu is going to push these other big guys around the basket," Gottfried said. "He is going to push them every day, and he already has, since he walked through the door July 1. "He gets your attention right when he comes through the door. He gets your heart started just walking through the door. He looks good and has a chance." Abu played five years of high school bas- ketball after reclassifying his sophomore season. He also played in high-profile events such as the NBPA Camp, Nike Global Chal- lenge and the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League prior to his senior year at Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy. He doesn't look like the typical freshman big man and arrives with plenty of experience. Gottfried loves his physical gifts and knows that time will take care of some of the refinement he'll need in his game. "He has all the tools," Gottfried said. "His body, quick jumper, anticipates well, great hands, so he has all the parts. When you jump from high school, a lot of guys come in and think they will dominate practice. It's not that easy, but he'll get there." ■ ■ 2014-15 NC State Frontcourt No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School) 0 Abdul-Malik Abu PF 6-8 240 Fr. Boston (Kimball Union Academy [N.H.]) 10 Lennard Freeman PF 6-8 250 So. Washington, D.C. (Oak Hill Academy [Va.]) 21 BeeJay Anya C 6-9 295 So. Gaithersburg, Md. (DeMatha Catholic) 32 Kyle Washington PF/C 6-9 225 So. Champlin, Minn. (Brewster Academy [N.H.]) Sophomore BeeJay Anna blocked 46 shots in just 388 minutes of playing time in 2013-14, and he has shed approximately 55 pounds in an effort to improve his stamina. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN