The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/470359
76 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING close to the games, I help them out with that. I'll bring along friends and family to watch with me. I want to go to as many games as I can." He's attended Cincinnati at NC State Dec. 30 and No. 15 North Carolina at NCSU Jan. 14. Gottfried didn't mince words after the 76-60 loss against the Bearcats and nei- ther does Smith, something they both have in common. Smith knows there was a stark differ- ence in the two games he watched, plus he watched the 87-75 home win against No. 2 Duke Jan. 11 on television. "It was terrible against Cincinnati," Smith said. "Coach Gottfried has lived up to his words. They've had good games with UNC and Duke, and bounced back." Smith liked what he saw of the NC State guards against Duke, especially the play of redshirt junior combo guard Trevor Lacey. "Coach Gottfried lets his guards go," Smith said. "I have watched Trevor Lacey a lot, and he and [sophomore point guard] Cat Barber are two different guards. Cat doesn't shoot from outside as good as Trevor, but he lets Cat attack the rack whenever he wants. He lets Trevor Lacey be Trevor, and that helps a lot." NC State and North Carolina played down to the wire, with the Tar Heels winning 81-79 in front of a sold-out PNC Arena in Raleigh. Smith has unofficially visited NC State more than 10 times, but he knew the crowd was special that night. "It was crazy. They knew if they could beat Duke and UNC in the same week, that would have been a big feat," Smith said. "It was packed all the way up." Smith has the ability to mesh all the strengths of Barber and Lacey into one player with his elite athleticism and driving ability, plus smooth long-range jumper. 4909 Western Boulevard, Suite 200 Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Telephone: (919) 851-4696 Fax: (919) 859-5598 Serving the community since 1966 www.jalucas.com Offering a wide variety of services: Personal Corporations Accounting/Bookkeeping Small Business Non-Profit Organizations Trusts Partnerships Estate & Financial Planning Payroll Services Tax Planning Dennis Smith Jr., a 6-2, 170-pound combo guard at Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian, is ranked as the No. 4 player in the class of 2016. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL