The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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74 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL E drice Adebayo and Dennis Smith Jr. will be captivating the attention of NC State's coaches and fans until they make their college decisions. That could end up being a long wait, de- pending on if the top six juniors want to sign next November or in April 2016. The 6-2, 170-pound Smith is an athletic point guard with a smooth jump shot from the small town of Godwin, N.C. (popula- tion 141). Smith, who is ranked No. 4 in the nation by Rivals.com in the class of 2016, attends Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian. The 6-10, 242-pound Adebayo is from the slightly bigger town of Pinetown, N.C. (150 residents). The Northside High center is ranked No. 6 overall in the class of 2016. NC State first started recruiting him at the start of his eighth-grade year. Adding intrigue is that the two are friends and have known each other since they were 12 years old. Smith played for Team Loaded N.C., and Adebayo was with Boo Williams last year, but they also played together on Smith's team last July in a Big Shots event in Myrtle Beach, S.C. They could also join forces full-time on one of the regional travel- ing teams this spring and summer. "I usually talk to Dennis about every other day," Adebayo said. "I know he's doing good. We just tell each other to keep pushing for the next level. It's fun playing with him. It's real intense when we play with each other because if one of us is not doing well, we'll chew each other out. If we are playing good, then it's all fun. "We are both from little towns and just try- ing to make something happen." Smith half-joked that he'll be gunning to surpass Kinston (N.C.) High senior small forward Brandon Ingram for most trips to NC State. Ingram is likely closing in on 20- plus, but remains undecided as the Wolfpack's top class of 2015 target going into March. NC State hasn't signed any seniors yet, but did land West Virginia junior shooting guard transfer Terry Henderson last June. The lack of commitments in the class of 2015 has heightened the importance for the class of 2016. Getting recruits on campus at NC State is always the key. Smith and Adebayo have been to NC State the most out of the 2016 targets, but they do have some company in that regard. Ranked juniors such as wing V.J. King (No. 17) of Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI, point guard Jamal Murray (No. 18) of Ontario (Can- ada) Orangeville Prep, small forward Miles Bridges (No. 19) of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, shooting guard Josh Langford (No. 20) of Madison (Ala.) Academy, shooting guard Rawle Alkins (No. 27) of Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ The King, small forward Mav- erick Rowan (No. 45) of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons, center Trevor Stan- back (No. 46) of Pasadena (Calif.) Maranatha and combo guard Curtis Jones (No. 88) of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep have all made unof- ficial visits to NC State. The third elite junior in the state of North Carolina — High Point Wesleyan power for- ward Harry Giles, who is ranked No. 2 in the class of 2016 — eliminated NC State Feb. 9, which has only heightened the importance of the Wolfpack landing Smith and Adebayo. The odds are good that Smith and Adebayo will go the distance with NC State on their lists, and the school might even be the col- lege that scares the competition the most in landing the duo. Adebayo Is A Big Talent From A Small Town The high school and college basketball community is getting to know about Pi- netown Northside High in the far eastern part of the state thanks to Adebayo. Northside High is right off highway 264, and if a visitor reaches the gas station or el- ementary school, they have gone too far. The main hub in the region is the town of Wash- ington (population 9,811), which is about 20 miles west of Pinetown. College basketball coaches have been vis- iting the area in earnest the last two years because of Adebayo's athleticism, frame and developing touch. He has a chance to become something special. "Playing for Northside means a lot because people don't see little schools like this play or have a big-name star in the school," said Adebayo, whose nickname is Bam Bam. "It's a real good feeling when little kids come around and say you are a superstar. "There are a lot of great players that have come from little towns." Essentially every major school but Duke and Kentucky has made the trip to see Ade- bayo. NC State head coach Mark Gottfried and assistant coach Rob Moxley arrived in a helicopter in December 2013 to see him. "I've been watching everybody in col- lege basketball on television, but mostly watching NBA basketball," Adebayo said. "I just want to see how they play and how physical they are. In college, the crowd base is crazy." Adebayo attended the Florida State at NC State football game Sept. 27, and Throw- back with the Pack Oct. 17 at Reynolds Coli- seum. He's hoping to make the trip to see Syracuse at NC State March 7. "Midnight Madness was fun, and the FSU at NC State game was real good because I thought State was going to win," Adebayo said. "They pulled that good half and then [FSU quarterback] Jameis Winston found that will to win." Gottfried has made Adebayo a major pri- ority since his freshman year, and his devel- opment since then has only heightened his recruitment. "The State coaches are really good people, but I like everybody. I try to keep it on the low who I like," Adebayo said. "I can feel NC State wanting me, but I feel that with other schools too. I just have to keep my eyes open and not focus on college because I have another year." North Carolina has been battling for Ade- bayo the last two years, and Louisville has upped its intensity of late. "UNC is good, and they come to my games and watch me work out sometimes," Adebayo said. "Everybody is just neutral. Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky and all those big-name schools, I like." Adebayo crossed the 1,500-point mark for his career on Jan. 28. "I've been working on my jumper a lot and I just have to stay in the gym and keep working on it," said Adebayo, 17, who has Wolfpack target Edrice Adebayo — a 6-10 center from Pinetown, N.C., and the nation's No. 6 junior — was averaging 31.4 points, 20.4 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game for Northside High through late February. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING Class Of 2016 Could Define NC State's Future