The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2016 ■ 69 ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING Raleigh native Thomas Allen know how badly they want him. Allen, who starred for Garner (N.C.) High the last three years, was offered by NC State on June 10 following an unof- ficial visit. He returned to campus a few weeks later to further strengthen the bond he has with the Wolfpack coaches. The Rivals.com three-star point guard prospect in the class of 2017 is on the move to Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Acad- emy, but has the month of August to stop by NCSU if he wants. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for Garner High last year, and won a NCHSAA 4A state title as a freshman in 2014. Talking to Gottfried and assistant coach Butch Pierre has been the highlight of Al- len's trips to NC State. The 6-1, 165-pound Allen also noticed Pierre watching him during the various events in July. "Coach Pierre started to recruit me when he first got the job last April, and I saw him in Dallas [for an adidas event]," Allen said. "He has been on me ever since. He is cool and down to earth. He is just real, and I like that." Allen, who is close to narrowing his list to about five schools from his total of 18 scholarship offers, said Gottfried wants him in Wolfpack red. "He has been working hard to get me to commit," Allen said. "It has been good. I am not changing my timeline just yet. I would like to sign in November." Allen's ability to stretch a defense with his jumper, plus his floater game in the lane, has made him difficult to slow down. "Against the taller guys, I'm athletic, but I'm not going to be dunking on any- body," Allen said. "I use my floater." Allen said former NC State star T.J. Warren of the Phoenix Suns and current fifth-year senior shooting guard Terry Henderson have been selling the Wolfpack hard. Both Warren and Henderson were teammates on the Garner Road traveling squad. "Terry has been trying to get me to come over there," Allen said. "He isn't hard about it, but he and T.J. are trying to get me to commit." Wolfpack Watch Nick Weatherspoon Extensively In July Camden (Miss.) Velma Jackson senior point guard Nick Weatherspoon didn't have to look hard to spot an NC State coach when he played in July. NCSU assistant coach Heath Schroyer and other members of the staff were al- ways present at Weatherspoon's MBA Hoops traveling team games. The Wolf- pack have heavily prioritized Rivals.com's No. 32-ranked player nationally in the class of 2017. The 6-1, 170-pounder did his part by showcasing his electric first step and ability to hit pull-up jumpers. Weatherspoon will soon be planning his next moves. "I want to cut my schools down soon," he said. "I don't want a decision by Sep- tember, so it isn't that fast. I have to see some games and know the offense and how the coaches coach." NC State, Mississippi State, Kansas, Memphis, Ohio State, Louisville, Iowa State, Indiana, Georgetown, LSU and North Carolina are some of the colleges vying for an official visit. "Those are some of the schools that have been with me from day one," Weather- spoon said. "The schools that stayed until the end, that shows a lot in my recruitment. "Coach Schroyer is always there at the game. That means a lot because I know what type of program they have. That just helps me out as a player." Weatherspoon said he is really look- ing forward to visiting both NC State and North Carolina at some point in August. Kansas is a recent addition to his recruit- ment. The Jayhawks signed Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman of Jackson, Miss., who played with Weatherspoon's older brother Quinndary with the Bulldogs and in traveling team basketball. Weatherspoon had previously said if Kansas offered they would get an official visit. "Kansas is now talking to my coach," Weatherspoon said. "They've been to all my games [in Las Vegas], so they are jump- ing in hard. I know Malik up there, and we are real close." Weatherspoon is a natural in the pick and roll, whether scoring or setting things up for others. He averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 re- bounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Velma Jackson High last winter. "I'm real good at the pick and roll be- cause I can catch and shoot it, come off the dribble and I am real explosive with the ball," Weatherspoon said. "When I'm in a good rhythm, I can shoot it from anywhere." Josh Anderson Is Impressed With NC State Unofficial Visit Baton Rouge (La.) Madison Prep senior shooting guard Josh Anderson took a two- day unofficial to NC State in late June, and hopes to return in the future. The athletic 6-4, 180-pounder is starting to narrow down his list and has a general idea of the schools he'd like to officially visit. The Wolfpack are positioned well in that thought process, due in part to Gott- fried and Pierre. NC State has been showing "real heavy" interest in Rivals.com's No. 41-ranked player in the class of 2017. Weatherspoon, a 6-1, 170-pound point guard, averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Camden (Miss.) Velma Jackson as a junior last year. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM