The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
JULY 2017 ■ 19 TRACKING THE PACK The 6-3, 190-pounder is listed as the No. 16 player in New Jersey and the No. 65 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com. • NC State is hoping that it may have found its long-term replacement for senior do-it-all H-back Jaylen Samuels in the Pack's offense after landing a verbal commitment from three- star Daevon Robinson from Medford (N.J.) Shawnee High, who picked NC State June 20. The player was once the subject of a head- line in The Burlington County Times called "Daevon Robinson hard to pin down in Shaw- nee offense." He was recruited by NC State to play tight end. He had also collected offers along the way from Boston College, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Central Florida and Temple, but narrowed his choices to Rutgers, Con- necticut and NCSU before picking the Pack. Robinson caught 29 passes for 225 yards and one receiving TD, as well as contrib- uting 52 rushing yards, 25 tackles, three forced fumbles, a sack and an interception in 2016. Rivals.com ranks Robinson as the No. 17 player in the Garden State and the No. 34 athlete in the country. • Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Western High corner Teshaun Smith unofficially visited NC State June 23 and committed on the trip. The 6-3, 170-pound Smith has earned at least 16 offers, including Power Five tenders from Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The Rivals.com three-star prospect at- tended Fort Lauderdale Westminster Acad- emy last year, where he played wide re- ceiver, cornerback and kick returner. Smith reported he had 24 receptions for 420 yards, 722 all-purpose yards, and 35 tackles with two interceptions and two passes broken up. Smith reportedly ran a 4.57-second 40- yard dash. He was recruited to play corner for NCSU. Rivals.com rates Raleigh Sanderson's Trent Pennix — who committed to the Wolfpack June 9 — as a three-star talent, the No. 25 prospect in North Carolina and the No. 34 run- ning back in the nation. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN The Wolfpacker staff has enjoyed get- ting to know various guests on their pod- cast nearly every Tuesday at noon inside of Amedeo's Italian Restaurant in Ra- leigh. The podcast is always available to listen to on TheWolfpacker.com, iTunes and most everywhere else podcasts can be downloaded. Here are some excerpts from when new NC State men's basketball head coach Kevin Keatts was a guest June 13: What went into completing your staff with as- sistant coaches James Johnson, Takayo Siddle and A.W. Hamilton? "They can be great mentors to our student-athletes and I wanted to put together a staff that would get along and work hard together. Obviously, they can do every- thing we need to do in our power to be successful here." What are your expectations for the Wolfpack next winter? "I think there are 15 teams in the conference and I would be shocked if anybody picked us higher than 15. The reason being is that we don't deserve it. We won four [ACC] games last year, and that's okay. "I never look at where people pick us at or don't care about that." The roster has been bolstered this offseason with several transfers in and one senior commit in Lavar Batts. What was the logic behind the additions? "We had to bring in some really good players that fit our style. When you talk about Lavar Batts, I'm certainly excited about him. He's a top-100 guard. He is very good and quick with the basketball. "He has a chance to be really special in the system that we play." What will it be like for sophomore point guard Markell Johnson in your system? "I had a really good productive meeting with Markell Johnson. I told him, 'The great thing about it, Markell, is you have a great opportunity because Dennis Smith is leaving and you have played one year. … The tough thing about it is that I've had some really tough guards I've held to a high standard.'" What was your reaction to sophomore center Omer Yurtseven pulling out of the NBA Draft? "I'm excited about Omer. I know a lot of people were critical of him. I don't think you've seen the best basket - ball of that young man. I want you to think about this, [being] an 18- or 19-year-old young man and you are coming into a program where due to NCAA rules, you have to sit out part of the non-conference schedule. "The first time you get a chance to really play col- lege basketball, you are thrown into the best confer- ence in college basketball in the ACC. It's tough for that kid to be good last year." How will Yurtseven fit in your system? "I think he'll be tremendous in this system. He's a guy that can shoot shots from beyond the arc a little bit and 15- to 18-foot jump shots. With his size, he can score over both shoulders." Do you expect senior power forward Abdul-Malik Abu to thrive in your up-and-down style? "When you talk about Malik Abu, I think he could have a breakout year for us. With his athletic ability, he could be really good for us. "One of the missing pieces from last year … as I go back and watch the team from last year, they really struggled with rebounding. When you look at [fifth- year senior center] Lennard Freeman, he'll be able to bring some of that toughness back to our lineup." How have offseason workouts been this spring? "For me, [offseason workouts have] been great, but for the players, it has been a challenge. I come in with a reputation of a coach that plays an up-tempo style on both ends of the floor. "For those guys, it has been an eye-opener. We have always prided on ourselves on being the best- conditioned team in the country." Podcast Highlights Extra Points NC State men's basketball assistant coach A.W. Hamilton on what his name means: "I was just talking to somebody about that. It stands for Archibald William. When I was born, my grandfather said, 'We aren't going to call him Archibald all his life. We are going to call him A.W.' It kind of stuck and what I went with. It makes things a lot simpler. I'm the sixth, and if I'm lucky enough to have a little boy, he'll be the seventh." … Former NC State small forward Scott Wood on his future plans after retiring from basketball: "I've been talking to some people and I don't want to be NC State's head basketball coach. I want to be the athletics director. I'm putting it out there that I want to be the athletics director, and whoever can help me get into that position, let me know. Broadcasting would be fun, but I want to manage." … NCSU men's basketball assistant coach Takayo Siddle on playing head coach Kevin Keatts one-on-one: "When we were at UNC Wilmington, our first year we played every single road game. We played one-on-one before the guys got ready to go or were stretching. I'm not ashamed to admit it, he beat me every time." … NC State women's basketball head coach Wes Moore on going from ACC meetings in Florida to Colorado Springs for team USA under-19 trials the next day: "It was pretty crazy with Amelia Island one day and I'm playing in the waves and having a good time. I found out if I have my Speedo on, I have a private beach within five minutes. Then a day later, I wake up in my hotel room and it's snowing in Colorado. Kind of crazy." New men's basketball coach Kevin Keatts was excited when sophomore center Omer Yurtseven pulled out of the NBA Draft and returned to NC State, and noted: "I think he'll be tremendous in this system." PHOTO BY RYAN TICE