The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/503388
MAY 2015 ■ 73 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State enters the late spring with some work left to be done in the class of 2015, while also setting the foundation in the next class. With redshirt junior Trevor Lacey decid‑ ing to play professionally and sophomore Kyle Washington transferring, the Wolf‑ pack now has six available scholarships in the class of 2015, and depending on who the Wolfpack brings in this spring, possibly that many in 2016. The class of 2016 has had quite the buildup ever since some of its members were in the eighth grade. Both Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian junior point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and Pinetown (N.C.) Northside junior center Edrice Adebayo were middle school prodigies, and both have been steady unofficial visitors to NC State the last two years. However, they aren't alone. NC State has targeted several top‑30 junior wings, including Madison (Ala.) Academy's Joshua Langford, who is ranked No. 17 nationally; Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic's Markelle Fultz, who is rated No. 25; and Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King's Rawle Alkins, who is listed No. 26. The latter two have already unofficially visited NC State. Smith Shoots For No. 1 Smith is aiming to be the No. 1 player in the class of 2016. Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep junior small forward Josh Jackson, who included NC State in his top nine schools, is the cur‑ rent Rivals.com No. 1 player in the country. High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan junior power forward Harry Giles and St. Louis Chami‑ nade junior small forward Jayson Tatum fill out the next two spots, and then Smith is at No. 4 in the nation. The 6‑2, 170‑point athletic point guard, who has deep range on his jump shot, figures why not him for the top spot. "The main thing I've been working on this offseason is my jumper from outside, my mid‑range game, and getting my ball handling tight," Smith said. "I want to prove I'm the best player in the country. "If I can catch Harry, then I'll show him something." Smith knows guards get graded one way and usually post players are viewed in a different light. That won't stop when Smith gets to college and tries to become a future NBA Draft choice. "A lot of times, they'll rate bigs off of potential and upside," Smith said. "If you are a guard, you have to do everything. "You have to get your teammates in‑ volved, be able to shoot the ball, attack the rack and defend — you have to show them more than potential." Smith looks up to Oklahoma City Thun‑ der point guard Russell Westbrook and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard for inspiration. "Westbrook is doing multiple things on the floor like getting rebounds, defend‑ ing really well and getting teammates in‑ volved," Smith said. "People say that was a knock on his game, getting teammates involved. He has been doing a great job of that and scoring the ball as well. He's balancing it." Smith and Trinity reached the NCI‑ SAA 1A state semifinals before falling to eventual champion The Burlington School 66‑43 Feb. 27 in Asheville, N.C. Smith averaged 21.8 points per game for Trinity (23‑10). Smith took a little time off after the season ended and then has been work‑ ing hard ever since. "I took a week and a half off from bas‑ ketball," Smith said. "I wanted to get my body rested for the AAU season and just take a break. I've been back in the gym, lifting weights and getting shots up." Smith also avidly watched the NCAA Tournament, and when the Godwin, N.C., native heard his grandmother screaming during the end of the NC State versus LSU game March 19, he knew what had happened. "That was a 'wow' game," Smith said. "Let me tell you how happy I was. It was a dead ball before the last shot, so I called my grandma on the phone. She is the big‑ gest NC State fan I know. We had to talk before the last shot. "The shot goes in, and I hear my grandma screaming. It was just crazy." NC State, Charlotte, Duke, Florida, Flor‑ ida State, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio State, VCU and Wake Forest have offered Smith. Louisville has also jumped in hard, and Smith wanted to pay his respects to the coaches at Fayetteville State. Smith is leaning toward waiting to the April signing period next year before mak‑ ing a college decision. "I need to see where everybody goes and I will wait it out," Smith said. "I want to make sure I am not going in and playing behind somebody. "I also could recruit others to join me, and that is something I could end up doing." Adebayo Is Teaming With Smith This Summer Pinetown (N.C.) Northside junior cen‑ ter Edrice Adebayo helped shift the land‑ scape a bit by changing traveling teams this spring and summer. Adebayo departed traditional Nike‑spon‑ sored powerhouse Boo Williams traveling team to play with adidas‑sponsored Team Loaded NC and be part of the three‑striped brand with good friend Smith. The Adebayo‑Smith pairing at the mini‑ mum will make it easier for college assis‑ tants to track both of them this spring and summer. NC State's coaching staff will probably be at every single one of their games in April and July. Smith knows people will talk package deal with Adebayo in the coming months, and he's comfortable with the notion. "That isn't a bad idea, I can say that much," Smith said. The 6‑10, 242‑pound Adebayo, who is ranked No. 8 nationally in the class of 2016 by Rivals.com, knows that he and Smith will push each other. "If I'm not doing something, he needs to get on me, and if he's not doing some‑ thing, I need to get on him," Adebayo said. "It will take some of the load off, and you ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING Star-Studded Options In The Class Of 2016 Could Elevate NC State Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian star Dennis Smith Jr., Rivals.com's No. 1 point guard and No. 4 overall prospect nationally, likely won't make his college decision until April 2016. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM