The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/85079
■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING taken unofficial trips to watch the Wolfpack play at the RBC Center. Torian Graham noticed some immediate changes in the NC State program after at- tending his first Wolfpack game in nearly a year. The Durham, N.C., native made the short N trip to the RBC Center to watch North Carolina at NC State Feb. 21. The Wolf- pack hung tough for roughly two-thirds of the game, but eventually lost 86-74 to the Tar Heels. Anton Wilson of Flint, Mich., who is attending Red Springs (N.C.) Flora Mac- Donald, went to his first NC State game Feb. 4 against Wake Forest. The Wolfpack cruised to an 87-76 victory over the Demon Deacons. The 6-4, 173-pound Graham was im- pressed with what he observed. The Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Center Academy shooting guard has previously committed to NC State on Dec. 22, 2011, and May 17, 2011. "It's a lot different from last year," said Graham, who was a frequent visitor to NCSU home games a year ago. "It's more exciting. It's more up-tempo, and they get the ball and go. They really want to get out in transition. They are getting better and more consistent." Graham also noticed first-hand how the players on the team have developed under new head coach Mark Gottfried and his staff. "Lorenzo Brown and C.J. Leslie have both improved," Graham said. "C.J. has im- proved his ball handling and his mid-range jumper, and is competing more. Lorenzo has more confidence and freedom." Graham said the Wolfpack's UCLA of- fense fits his talents pretty well, but it's his relationship with Gottfried that has kept the recruiting relationship alive. "Coach Gottfried loves me as if I'm his own son," Graham said. "He just says to stay focused. Not everybody's road is go- ing to be smooth and easy. You have to take a different route sometimes. Everybody's situation isn't the same." Graham started the year off at a Jackson- ville (Fla.) Arlington Country Day before matriculating to Christian Faith Center in mid-January. He also previously attended Durham Hillside High for two years, and split his junior year between Raleigh Word 84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Durham, N.C., native Torian Graham, a 6-4 shooting guard at Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Center Academy, is ranked as the No. 51 player nationally by Rivals.com. of God and Carrboro (N.C.) Pace Academy. Graham still has his sights set on signing with a college in April. More importantly, he says he's finally happy after returning to his home area. Graham's assistant coach at Word of God last year, Craig Wilson, is helping him reach his full potential on and off the court. Rivals.com ranks Graham as the No. 51 overall player in the country and the No. 8 shooting guard. "I know I need to stay focused, finish up strong and get ready to compete on the next level," Graham said. "NC State still wants me real bad. I know in the end that I'm going to make my own college decision." Louisville, Memphis, Xavier and Oregon have also offered Graham, who isn't close to making a decision. Wilson has burst on to NC State's ra- dar during his senior year at Red Springs (N.C.) Flora MacDonald. He hopes that one game in particular this season could help alter his life. Wilson had arguably the finest perfor- mance of his young basketball career when he sunk eight three-pointers en route to 30 points against No. 1-ranked Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy Feb. 21 at Red Springs High. Wilson also got fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws. Wilson and Flora MacDonald trailed 23-3 at one point in the first quarter, but that is when he started his scoring binge. He made six three-pointers in the first half, finishing the half with 19 points, and brought the Cougars all the way back. Oak Hill recovered to take a 36-29 halftime lead, but Wilson left his mark. Oak Hill switched to an aggressive matchup zone in the second half, which slowed Wilson down some and allowed the Warriors to pull away for a 73-51 victory. NC State point guard signee Tyler Lewis had 10 points in the victory for undefeated Oak Hill. "It felt great — I was in a rhythm," Wil- son said. "I was just knocking them down. I knew that I had to knock down shots for us to win. We just came up short." Flora MacDonald had previously lost Two Senior Wings On NC State's Radar For The Spring Signing Period BY JACEY ZEMBAL C State is keeping tabs on a pair of un- signed senior wings who have recently PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL