The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/592698
NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 139 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State has had a long tradition of bringing in elite players from New York City and its surrounding areas. Former standouts Moe Rivers, Lorenzo Charles, Ernie Myers, Tom Gugliotta, Ju‑ lius Hodge and Gavin Grant came from the Big Apple to play for NC State over the last five decades. It's hard to list a top NC State team since the 1970s that didn't have some New York flavor to it. NC State head coach Mark Gottfried and his staff have been hard at work recruit‑ ing several players from New York City. The Wolfpack also are playing in Brook‑ lyn, N.Y., as part of the Legends Classic Nov. 23‑24. Senior shooting guard Rawle Alkins is one of the top Wolfpack targets for this spring. The 6‑4, 204‑pound Alkins is origi‑ nally from Brooklyn, N.Y., but attended high school for three years at Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King in Queens. He ran out of eligibility at Christ the King and has moved to attend Raleigh Word of God for his senior year. Rivals.com's No. 9 senior in the country by is considering NC State, In‑ diana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, St. John's and UNLV. Alkins isn't the only New York City na‑ tive on the radar for NC State. A pair of five‑star juniors who are originally from Queens were both offered by the Wolfpack June 15 — guards Trevon Duval and Hami‑ dou Diallo. The 6‑2, 189‑pound Duval is ranked No. 2 overall in the class of 2017 by Rivals.com and has moved to Dallas Advanced Prepa‑ ratory International. Diallo has remained closer to his New York City roots. The 6‑4, 181‑pound shooting guard is ranked No. 12 in the country and attends Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy. Trevon Duval Emerges Into Special Point Guard Duval was one of the true breakout play‑ ers of the spring and summer, and his lofty national ranking proves it. Duval then made the move from Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict's to Dallas Advanced Preparatory International this fall, where he'll play with five‑star talents such as Al‑ abama‑bound senior shooting guard Ter‑ rance Ferguson and junior forward Billy Preston, who is also an NC State target. NC State offered Duval before he blew up at the NBPA Camp June 17‑20 at the University of Virginia, where he helped lead his team to the title. "NC State has been contacting me a little bit and offered me," Duval said. "I want to watch guys that have a similar game as me and how they progress, and how the school handles them." Duval attended the Stephen Curry Back‑ court Camp in the Bay area and was named co‑MVP. He got to play some against NC State senior point guard commit Den‑ nis Smith Jr. of Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian. "Dennis won the one‑on‑one champion‑ ship," Duval said. "I ended up playing the other co‑MVP, Michael Porter. He's taller [6‑8] and he can shoot really well. Against Dennis, he's explosive and deceptive, and he has a sneaky jump shot. It is just un‑ expected. He'll just be dribbling, looking around, and then shoot it out of nowhere." Duval has entered the world of being a highly recruited prep player. "Recruiting is something that is just hap‑ pening. Coaches will call me and talk to me," Duval said. "I hear what they have to say, and I put in some mental notes. I'm just taking my time right now." Duval said some schools started to recruit him after his performance at the NBPA Camp. "I started to hear from Arizona, and then Duke jumped in, which was surprising," Duval said. "Virginia, North Carolina, UCLA all jumped in." Some have called Duval a combo guard, but he's become the No. 1 point guard in the class of 2017. ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING New York City Guards Are Top 2017 Targets For The Wolfpack Big Apple native Rawle Alkins, the No. 9 over- all prospect in the class of 2016 according to Rivals.com, is attending Raleigh Word of God for his senior year. PHOTO COURTESY RIVAL.COM Rivals.com rates Duval — a Queens, N.Y., native who will play at Dallas Advanced Preparatory International this fall — as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 point guard in the country and the No. 2 overall player in the junior class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM