The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/554771
92 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS He checked in at No. 9 on Baseball America's midseason rankings of the top 50 prospects in baseball. T.J. Warren, F, Phoenix Suns For the second straight year Warren thrived in the NBA Summer League. After the No. 14 overall pick of the 2014 draft was named second-team All-NBA Sum- mer League in his debut, he upgraded that honor to a first-team nod this year. The Durham native played in 40 games with one start as a rookie for the Suns, and averaged 15.4 minutes and 6.1 points per game. However, his playing time increased later in the year, and he posted a clip of 7.9 points per contest in each of the final two months. By the end of the season, Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek said, "He's going to be a starter in this league." Warren carried that success into the sum- mer, where he averaged 18.7 points per game in Las Vegas and helped his squad to the championship game. He notched at least 20 points in four of the seven contests and shot 54 percent from the floor, despite dealing with a minor hamstring injury that limited him in the final two tilts. Ryan Hill, track and field The 25-year-old, who earned 10 All- America honors and won seven ACC titles during his time at NC State, now competes for the Bowerman Track Club. On June 28, he won the senior men's 5,000-meter race at the USATF Outdoor Championships in 13:50.69 to claim the national title and a spot on Team USA for the World Outdoor Championships, Aug. 22-30 in Beijing, China. He also topped Galen Rupp, an Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 meters, during the race; Rupp had not lost to an American in an outdoor event since September 2013. Earlier this year, he also won the two- mile run at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in a meet record of 8:26.72. The future is bright for Hill, who is hitting his stride at the right time — he will be vying to represent his country in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Darrion Caldwell, Bellator MMA The former national champion wres- tler had the end of his college career and Olympic dreams derailed by injuries. He is healthy now and once again showing the promise he was known for on the wrestling mat in Raleigh — although it comes in the eight-sided cage for Bellator, which is considered the No. 2 Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Caldwell, who won the 149-pound NCAA title in 2008-09, made his bantam- weight (135 pounds) debut in his last fight May 15. He won a unanimous decision over Rafael Silva, a fighting veteran who had previously fought for the organiza- tion's championship belt after winning their 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight tournament. Caldwell, who turned pro in September 2012 with no prior MMA experience, is currently 7-0 and awaiting the announce- ment of his next fight. In addition to an out- standing wrestling pedigree, the 27-year- old brings great length to the weight class at 5-10. His nickname pays homage to his time at NCSU — he goes by, "The Wolf." Emily Weiman, RHP, Pennsylvania Rebellion Much like Rodon and Turner always seem to be mentioned in the same breath, so are softball pitcher and former shortstop teammate Renada Davis. The 2015 NCSU graduates made history in Raleigh, rewrit- ing the record books and helping the Pack become the first team from the state of North Carolina to reach the NCAA Super Regionals. Both are performing well as rookies at the professional level, National Pro Fast- pitch. The fifth-round pick and No. 22 overall selection in the April draft, Wei- man had pitched in 15 games as of Aug. 6, posting a record of 1-7 with three saves and a 2.69 ERA. She had struck out 48 in 54²/ ³ innings for the Pennsylvania Rebellion. Renada Davis, SS, Dallas Charge Davis tied for the highest pick in program history, when her home state Dallas Charge selected her with the No. 16 overall selec- tion at the start of the fourth round. She cur- rently leads the league with 11 doubles and is tied for first with a pair of triples, while she is hitting .264 through 42 games. In addition to being the only player on the squad to start every contest, Davis leads the Charge in hits (33), doubles (11), total bases (51) and walks (17), and is tied for second in runs scored (14). The ACC's all-time home run leader was named the Rookie of the Week for the sec- ond time July 27, after hitting .438 with four doubles during the previous seven days. ■ Former Pack wrestler Darrion Caldwell joined the Bellator MMA organization in September 2012, and has won his first seven pro fights despite having no previous experience in the sport. PHOTO COURTESY BELLATOR MMA