The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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56 ■ THE WOLFPACKER NC State is carrying 12 scholarship play- ers on its roster, but due to the versatility of redshirt sophomore guard Torin Dorn it could feel like having 14. Dorn's ability to play three perimeter po- sitions helps the Wolfpack be deeper than usual. Head coach Mark Gottfried even pointed out that the 6-5, 208-pounder could play power forward in a pinch against a small-ball lineup. The Wolfpack roster doesn't have any- one else with those kind of Swiss Army Knife features. "I don't want to say he's a pleasant sur- prise because we watched him all year last year, but I think he has improved a great deal," Gottfried said. "He is versatile and can move around and play multiple posi- tions." Dorn is part of what some have dubbed NC State's "Rescue Squad," which also in- cludes freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and fifth-year senior shooting guard Terry Henderson. The three watched the Pack's games in street clothes last year, with Smith arriving for the second semester from high school. Henderson injured his ankle seven minutes into the season opener, and Dorn had to sit out the year per NCAA transfer rules. "We talked about that enough last year at the games, and we know what time it is," said Dorn, who was the scout team point guard last year. "For this team this year, I expect to do whatever they need me to do. "Whether it is playing the two, three or bringing it up. I can play defense or score, and I'll do anything it takes to win." Dorn comes from an athletic family. To- rin Dorn Sr. was a standout on the gridiron at North Carolina and played seven seasons in the NFL, while younger brother Myles Dorn is a freshman backup safety for the Tar Heels. He thought he has added an inch or two and 20 pounds to his frame since his time at Charlotte (N.C.) Vance High. The extra size paid off his freshman year at Charlotte, where he averaged 12.0 points and 3.7 re- bounds in 27.5 minutes per game, and shot an impressive 50.5 percent from the field. However, after a coaching change, Dorn elected to leave Charlotte and narrowed his transfer choices to NC State and Miami. Gottfried was happy when he selected the Wolfpack. "He is like a freight train or a downhill running fullback sometimes because he is so powerful and strong," Gottfried said. "In the open court, he's tremendous in practice. He's had great days. He has such a good at- titude every day and does everything right." Dorn is driven to prove that he can play at the ACC level after being named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2015. "Ever since I was a freshman or sopho- more in high school, I've always been over- looked," Dorn said. "I've been overlooked my whole life. I just want to prove people wrong. I've been proving people wrong my whole life, too." "I think the sky is the limit for him," Gottfried said. "He has to improve as a shooter, and he is working on that. He puts pressure on you because he is so strong. We like him." The more Dorn and Henderson push each other at shooting guard, the better the Wolfpack become. Dorn and freshman point guard Markell Johnson could both see minutes behind Smith. "I think Terry and Torin can both be lock-down perimeter players," Gottfried said. "I think so can Dennis [Smith], and Markell is just young, so we don't know yet. There were guys last year having ca- reer days on us. We had too much of that." — Jacey Zembal WOLFPACK BASKETBALL Torin Dorn Ready To Make His NCSU Debut According to head coach Mark Gottfried, Dorn — who had to sit out last year per NCAA transfer rules — "has improved a great deal" since arriving at NC State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 2016-17 NC State Men's Basketball Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 3 Lynn University^ 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Barton College^ 7 p.m. Nov. 11 Georgia Southern 7 p.m. Nov. 13 St. Francis College 2 p.m. Nov. 18 vs. Montana% (CBSSN) 6 p.m. Nov. 19/20 vs. Creighton/ Washington State% (CBSSN) TBD Nov. 21 vs. TBD% (CBSSN) TBD Nov. 26 Loyola (Chicago)+ 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at Illinois# (ESPNU) 9 p.m. Dec. 3 Boston University 4:30 p.m. Dec. 10 Tennessee State! 4 p.m. Dec. 15 Appalachian State (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Dec. 18 Fairfield 2 p.m. Dec. 22 McNeese State 7 p.m. Dec. 28 Rider 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Miami* (RSN) 4:30 p.m. Jan. 4 Virginia Tech* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 7 at North Carolina* (ESPN) 2/8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Boston College* (RSN) 9 p.m. Jan. 15 Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 Pittsburgh* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Jan. 21 Wake Forest* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at Duke* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Louisville* (ACCN) 1 p.m. Feb. 1 Syracuse* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Feb. 4 Miami* (ACCN) 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at Florida State* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at Wake Forest* (RSN) 12 p.m. Feb. 15 North Carolina* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Feb. 18 Notre Dame* (ESPN/2) 12 p.m. Feb. 21 at Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Feb. 25 Virginia* (ESPN/2) TBD March 1 at Clemson* (ACCN) 8 p.m. March 7-11 ACC Tournament TBD ^ Exhibition; % Paradise Jam at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Creighton, Loyola, Montana, NC State, Ole Miss, Oral Roberts, St. Joseph's and Washington State); + Paradise Jam; # ACC/Big Ten Challenge; ! Heritage Game at Reynolds Coliseum; * ACC Game; $ at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.; CBSSN — CBS Sports Network; ACCN — ACC Network; RSN — Regional Sports Network NC State's Returning Leaders Points: Junior PF Abdul-Malik Abu and sophomore SF Maverick Rowan (12.9 per game) Rebounds: Abu (8.8) Assists: Abu (42) Blocks: Senior C BeeJay Anya (73) Steals: Anya (17) Three-pointers made: Rowan (81) FG percentage: Anya (.575) FT percentage: Rowan (.765) Minutes: Rowan (1,102)