The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
92 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WOLFPACK BASKETBALL PREVIEW "She's someone who can come off the bench and give us that Steve Kerr-type instant offense," Hill said. "She needs to get her shot off quicker, especially against ACC opponents, and she's working on that and her ball handling. She's probably go- ing to remain a role-type player this year, but she can help us in situations where her coming in and hitting some threes will hurt opponents trying to zone us." Jackson, the new addition to the pe- rimeter corps, is a WBCA High School Honorable Mention All-American ranked as the 19th-best guard in the country last year by ESPN. The 5-9 freshman aver- aged 15.4 points per contest for perennial private school power Riverdale Baptist in Maryland, and sank the winning shot in the National Association of Christian Athletes title game in Dayton, Tenn., last March — ironically, against future Wolfpack team- mate Akela Maize's previously unbeaten New Hope Christian Academy of Thom- asville, N.C. "She's been in pressure situations, so she can definitely give us depth and scoring punch," Hill said. "She may be a little up and down to start, but I can see her being able to come off the bench and give us a spark." "Chloe has decent size and strength, can shoot the three or get to the basket, and obviously comes from a very good bas- ketball school," Moore added. "She is still adjusting to college ball and has to grasp the little things and understand their im- portance rather than just trying to get by on natural ability." Rounding out the guard contingent is returning 5-11 junior Kaley Moser, who began her career two years ago as a walk- on. The Burlington native has appeared in just 17 games the past two years, mainly as a late-game sub, but is one of the most popular players on the team, according to her coaches, and remains one of its hardest workers in practice and off the court. Rather than viewing this year's raised expectations about his perimeter players as a negative, Hill insists it will serve as added motivation. "I welcome the opportunity," he said. "I like proving people wrong, and there are a lot out there who don't think we can succeed this year because of the people we lost. We know the spotlight is going to be on us, so I want our players to go out and work their tails off, come back each day in practice and get better. That's a challenge we're happy to accept." ■ Senior wing Krystal Barrett scored in double figures in 12 games last season, and the Wolfpack coaches are looking for a rise in that number this winter. PHOTO BY GREG MINTEL/NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS