The Wolfpacker

94 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State enters the spring signing period with at least two scholarships available. The Wolfpack zeroed in on three targets dur- ing the fall signing period, and received three different endings with the trio. The Wolfpack signed Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian senior point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who will be enrolling at NCSU in January. He is still rehabilitating from the surgery he had on a torn ACL in August. Smith is rated as the No. 4 overall player in the class of 2016 by Rivals.com, and the Wolfpack hope he will help attract more top talent to Raleigh. NC State tried to land Smith's Team Loaded NC traveling teammate Edrice Ade- bayo of High Point (N.C.) Christian, but the nation's No. 7-ranked player and top center broke the Wolfpack's heart and signed with Kentucky. The third prospect decided to simply wait. Center Udoka Azubuike of Jacksonville (Fla.) Potter's House is ranked as the No. 27 overall player in the class of 2016, and he had offi- cially visited NC State, Kansas, Florida State and North Carolina. A fourth NC State target didn't have any fall drama. The Wolfpack and the rest of the colleges on Raleigh Word of God senior shooting guard Rawle Alkins' list knew he would wait until the April signing period. Rivals.com's No. 9 overall player nationally attended the Michigan at NC State game Dec. 1 at PNC Arena, and is expected to be a regu- lar unofficial visitor throughout the winter. NC State has offered one new player, who has surged up the recruiting rankings. Senior post player Taurean Thompson is from Man- hattan, N.Y., but transferred to Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy for his last year of prep basketball. The 6-9, 220-pound Thompson went from unranked by Rivals.com to the No. 84 overall player in the country in the class of 2016. Thompson played for legendary Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony's coach Bob Hurley Sr., and with the Playaz Basketball Club in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. He averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and shot 56.4 percent from the field and 52.2 percent at the free throw line in 17 EYBL games for the Playaz. NC State Has Homecourt Advantage With Rawle Alkins The 6-4, 220-pound Alkins made the tran- sition from Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King in Queens to Word of God Christian Academy. Alkins was forced to leave Christ the King due to concerns over playing varsity basket- ball during his eighth grade year in Florida. The final ruling on his eligibility wouldn't have come until well after the school year started. Hence, he landed in Raleigh, which he admits is not the same as the Big Apple. "It's a crazy difference," Alkins said. "Ev- erything is slow out here. I have days where I'll sleep at 8 p.m., whereas New York is known as the city where no one sleeps. I used to go to bed at 12 a.m. in New York because there is always something to do. "Here, it's books and basketball, and I need that." Another welcome change is that when Al- kins recently went to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, he was immediately recognized. That never happened on the subways in New York City, and he is starting to see how strong the passion is on Tobacco Road. "College is college," Alkins said. "It's just about playing style. Every college is the same in North Carolina. UNC has crazy fans, and NC State has crazy fans. The fans are amaz- ing in North Carolina. "I took the train to school every morning in New York, and I never got stopped [by fans]." Alkins won two New York state federation titles and was the New York City player of the year as a junior. He furthered his winning reputation last July by scoring 34 points and draining five three-pointers to lead the New York Rens traveling team to the adidas Gauntlet title, which is the most prestigious event on the adidas circuit. Alkins' ability to make the extra pass or the right pass helps create that winning culture. He is able to get buckets, but is judicious with his shot selection. "I just try to do whatever it takes to win," Alkins said. "Any time I'm on, I expect win- ning no matter what. I'm going to give it my all, no matter what." Smith is a big plus in NC State's favor in Alkins' recruitment. The dynamic point guard, who verbally committed to the Wolf- pack Sept. 10, shared a moment with Alkins after the televised title game of the adidas Nations tournament, where Smith injured his knee. "They told me how I'd be live on TV in Shooting guard Rawle Alkins of Raleigh Word of God — who is being pursued by NC State, North Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, St. John's and UNLV, among others — plans to wait until late in the spring before making his college choice. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING NC State Hopes To Have Busy Spring Signing Period Taurean Thompson, 6-9, 220 pounds, was offered by NC State in fall. The native of Man- hattan, N.Y., plays at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., and he is rated the No. 84 senior in the country by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM

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