The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/81131
WOLFPACK LEGACY T BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE T.J. Warren Follows In His Father's Footsteps BY JACEY ZEMBAL .J. Warren was born with NC State blood in his veins, but that didn't automatically mean he knew exactly where he wanted to go for college. Warren is the son of former Wolfpack standout Tony Warren Sr., who played for coach Norm Sloan from 1976-80. T.J. War- ren grew up cheering for NC State, but grew disenfranchised about following in the foot- steps of his father after watching NCSU go through some recent struggles. The hiring of head coach Mark Gottfried and his staff rejuvenated Warren's interest in NC State, and he ultimately signed with the Wolfpack over offers from Georgetown, North Carolina, Kansas, Florida, Ohio State and Kentucky, among others. Warren kept NC State guessing through- I want to make a big impact." ■ Warren Mark Gottfried, I feel we can finish at the top every year. "For us to have this type of recruiting class and out much of the fall, but the lure of playing with fellow recruiting classmates — point guard Tyler Lewis of Statesville, N.C., and shooting guard Rodney Purvis of Raleigh — helped the Wolfpack win out at the end over Georgetown and UNC. "Coach Gottfried and assistant coach Or- lando Early are just so confident in what they can do," Warren said. "When I'd have conversations with them, it used to get real deep about different stuff, and not just about basketball. I was able to communicate with them all the time, and I could play for them." Warren will wear No. 24 at NC State in honor of his father, who also wore that number. "I'd been following NC State since I was a little kid," Warren said. "I was a big fan and cheered for them all the time. My dad went there, and I wanted to keep the legacy alive and go to NC State. To have that 'War- ren' on the back of the jersey is going to feel good." The 6-8, 230-pound Warren also knows Warren, Rivals.com's No. 17 player nationally, will wear No. 24 at NC State in honor of his father, Tony Warren Sr., who played for coach Norm Sloan from 1976-80. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL 28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER it's a different NC State program following a Sweet 16 trip in the NCAA Tournament then the one he was contemplating joining last March.