The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JULY 2017 ■ 25 TRACKING THE PACK Combo guard Sam Hunt graduated from North Carolina A&T May 13 and announced his transfer to NC State on the same day. The former Greensboro (N.C.) Dud‑ ley High standout started his career at Jacksonville and then came back home for three years (playing two) at North Carolina A&T. The chance to play in the ACC and for new NCSU head coach Kevin Keatts was too good to pass up. The 6‑2, 175‑pound Hunt averaged 15.4 points per game last year for the Aggies, and shot 38.8 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three‑point land. He also would have been third in the country in free throw percentage (93.7) if he had enough attempts (74 of 79). The Wolfpacker recently caught up with Hunt in his hometown of Greens‑ boro to get his thoughts on his upcoming move. What have the last few weeks been like since transferring to NC State? "It has been a blessing to graduate from North Carolina A&T and then commit to NC State. It's a lifetime dream to play in the ACC. "Now, it is going out there and competing and working every day to accomplish my goals." What has been the reaction of your friends and the community to going to NC State? "They were excited, and everyone was happy. I felt like I worked hard to get here. The whole community has supported me. "They have my back, and they are happy to see me go to NC State." What has been the interaction with the Wolfpack coaches since you announced your transfer? "It is the same thing as the recruiting process. [Assistant] Coach [Takayo] Siddle and Coach Keatts are genuine people. "They are straightforward people. It is a good feeling that they are still talking to me like they are recruiting me." How long have you known assistant coach Takayo Siddle? "Since the end of my freshman year. Then even after I committed to another school [Jacksonville], he'd still talk to me from time to time." How have you watched Siddle's career evolve since then? "Seeing him at Gardner-Webb and Wilmington and now NC State, he's worked his way up. He's a good guy, and he deserves it." Have you talked to any of the former Hargrave players you know given you tips about Keatts? "[Former Hargrave players] P.J. Hairston [who played at North Carolina], Dez Wells [who played at Xavier and Maryland]. JaQuel Richmond played for him at Wilmington. I talked to all those guys. "They speak highly of him." What do you think of the NC State signing of point guard Lavar Batts Jr. of Concord (N.C.) Robinson? "I've watched Lavar for the last three years. He's fast, athletic, smart, heady, works hard. I know he'll show off his talent and his athleticism. "I'm ready to see him play for the Wolfpack Nation." Have you been reaching out to the current guys on the NC State roster? "I've talked to [Baylor graduate transfer] Allerik Freeman, who I've known since I was younger playing AAU ball. I've talked to him a couple of times. "We also have a group chat." What is the most exciting part of joining the NC State program? "I'm looking to win. I believe we have a chance, with a new coaching staff and new team. I believe we can shock a lot of people and win some games. We can also win the ACC Tournament and go to the NCAA [Tournament]. "That is the most exciting thing. That is what I'm looking forward to." — Jacey Zembal Getting To Know: Fifth-Year Senior Sam Hunt Hunt, a graduate transfer from North Carolina A&T, averaged 15.4 points per game last sea- son for the Aggies. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL Member Of 1974 National Title Team Passes Away Bill Lake, a 6-11 freshman center on NC State's 1973-74 NCAA and ACC championship team, died from complications of kidney and heart surgery June 26 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C. He was 62. The Carmel, Ind., native played in 14 games dur - ing the championship season as a backup to senior All-American Tommy Burleson, averaging 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds per contest. He returned the next year to play in 15 games, averaging 1.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per outing. Following his sophomore season, Lake trans- ferred to Miami (Ohio), where as a senior he helped the RedHawks to the 1978 Mid-American Confer- ence championship and a No. 20 final ranking in the Associated Press poll. Lake and his family settled in eastern North Caro- lina after he finished college. He spent three sea- sons as the girls basketball coach at Southside High School in Washington, compiling an impressive 70-14 record from 2009-11. He attended last fall's induction ceremony for the 1973-74 team into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame. Lake is the first player or assistant coach to pass from the title team. Head coach Norm Sloan died in 2003 at the age of 77. — Tim Peeler Young Track Performers Shine Four NC State track and field athletes will be racing in the 2017 Pan Am Junior Championships in Peru in July. They earned spots on the American team at the USA Track & Field Junior Championships at Sacramento, Calif., in June: • Rising redshirt freshman Tim Bason won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:15.40. Bason had never raced in a full steeplechase prior to the meet in Sacramento. • Rising junior Gabriele Cunningham finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.56 seconds to qualify for the Pan Am games. It was one of two strong performances in California for Cunningham. She also set a school record in the 100 meters with her mark of 11.26 seconds in the prelims, bettering the previ - ous best held since 2004 by Felicia Fant (11.41 seconds). Cunningham would finish sixth in the finals, with a time of 11.56 seconds. • Freshman Dylan Peebles, the son of former NCSU dual-sport start Danny Peebles (football and track), qualified for the 200-meter dash with his second place time of 20.95 seconds, the ninth fastest clocking by an NC State runner. The school record for the 200 is 19.9 seconds by Kevin Braunskill in 1990. • Freshman Cravont Charleston, who won the ACC championship in the 100 meters with a time of 10.07 seconds, the second fastest mark in school history, fin - ished third in the 100-meter race (10.43 seconds after running 10.37 in the prelims) to earn a spot on the relay squad. Charleston had also finished third in the 200, crossing the line in 21.10 seconds. The Pan Am games will be held July 21-23 in Trujillo, Peru.