The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
134 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State needed to improve its pe- rimeter both for the upcoming sea- son and long-term future. First-year head coach Kevin Keatts has suc- ceeded on both fronts since taking over the program. The immediate future was taken care of by securing incoming freshman point guard Lavar Batts Jr. of Concord (N.C.) Robinson High, who became the first commit of the Keatts era April 1, and adding graduate trans- fers Allerik Freeman from Baylor and Sam Hunt from North Carolina A&T. Freeman and Hunt can play both guard spots, and will be eligible right away. The addition of a pair of transfers and a class of 2018 commitment ensured the future would be taken care of as well. The Wolfpack landed junior wing C.J. Bryce of North Caro- lina Wilmington and sophomore wing Devon Daniels of Utah on the same day, May 27. Atlanta Westlake High rising senior combo guard Jamie Lewis then joined the program less then two weeks later with his verbal pledge June 9. The Future Face Of The Program C.J. Bryce wanted to check out his choices, but it quickly became apparent to him that following Keatts and his staff from UNCW to NC State was an easy decision. The 6-5, 185-pound sophomore officially visited NC State (May 13-14) and South Car- olina. The Charlotte native made the decision to join the Wolfpack May 27. "They were always at the top of my list, just because of Kevin Keatts," Bryce said. "I still wanted to explore my options, and I explored them all. NC State was still at the top of my list at the end of it. "The process was tiring and I was ready to go ahead and get it in. I was ready to make my commitment." Bryce averaged 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game his freshman year en route to a spot on the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team. He improved to 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest his sophomore year, was named first-team All-CAA and then won MVP honors for the CAA Tourna- ment this past March. The opportunity to play in the ACC and be close to home proved to be a winning combination. Having former UNCW assis- tant coaches Takayo Siddle, who played a key role in the recruit- ment, and Thomas Carr in Raleigh also helped. "It will be great," Bryce said. "I'm ready for it. It's something I've worked for, and I'm ready to play in there the year I am eli- gible." Although Bryce must sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules, he expects to become one of the leaders on the team. "That is definitely something that Coach Keatts has discussed with me," he said. "I already know the program and the style of play. I can come in and be that coach on the court that they need." Bryce became accustomed to winning while in Wilmington — helping the Se- ahawks advance to the NCAA Tournament both years, falling to Duke his freshman year and Virginia this past March — and is eager to be a part of the rebuild in Raleigh. "I look forward to it being a great process," he said. "We are going to turn this program around." Bryce plans to work on his game while sitting out next year. "I really want to focus on making the tran- sition to being a point guard," he said. "I want to be a point. I want to be a leader on and off the court, and focus in the classroom. I just feel like I can make that natural transition to the next level at point guard." HELP IS ON THE WAY NC State Fortifies Its Perimeter Attack With Six Newcomers As a sophomore at UNC Wilmington, C.J. Bryce averaged 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and won the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament MVP. PHOTO COURTESY UNC WILMINGTON ATHLETICS ■ 2017-18 NC State Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Year 3 Lavar Batts Jr. PG 6-2 Fr. 31 Spencer Newman SG 6-3 R-Fr. 5 Darius Hicks PF 6-7 So. 11 Markell Johnson PG 6-1 So. 14 Omer Yurtseven C 7-0 So. 24 Devon Daniels SG/SF 6-5 So.* 22 Shaun Kirk SF 6-8 Jr. 13 C.J. Bryce SG 6-5 Jr.* 2 Torin Dorn SG 6-5 R-Jr. 42 Tucker Thompson C 6-10 Sr. 0 Abdul-Malik Abu PF 6-8 Sr. 12 Allerik Freeman SG 6-3 5th-Sr. 1 Lennard Freeman C/PF 6-8 5th-Sr. 15 Sam Hunt SG/PG 6-2 5th-Sr. * Sitting out this season per NCAA transfer rules