The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/862569
80 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL T he Wolfpack has offered and pursued players from the Old Dominion State in three different classes, starting with the impressive senior duo of Keldon Johnson and David McCormack from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. Johnson is a skilled wing from South Hill while Mc- Cormack is a center from Norfolk. NCSU hopes to have both players officially visit this fall. Junior center Armando Bacot of Rich- mond has emerged as a five-star prospect in the class of 2019 and was offered by the Pack May 2. NC State also has made inroads in the class of 2020 with a pair of prospects. Power forward Isaiah Todd of Richmond, who is expected to be a Rivals.com five- star prospect, earned a Wolfpack offer July 17. Shooting guard Cameron Thomas of Chesapeake hasn't yet been offered, but unofficially visited NC State June 26. First-year head coach Kevin Keatts and two of his assistant coaches, James John- son and A.W. Hamilton, have deep ties to the state of Virginia. Keatts grew up in Lynchburg, Va., and attended nearby Ferrum (Va.) College be- fore embarking on his coaching career. He coached at Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy from 1997-2001 and 2003-11 before entering the college ranks. Hamilton then took over for Keatts at Hargrave and learned the ins and outs of re- cruiting Virginia to keep the post-graduate program loaded year in and year out. Johnson grew up just west of Richmond in Powhatan, and also attended Ferrum College, where he played with Keatts from 1991-93. Johnson has worked as an assis- tant coach at Longwood, Old Dominion, George Mason and Virginia Tech, and then became the head coach of the Hokies from 2012-14. With the staff's decades of experience in pursuing Virginia-based player, NC State has been aggressive in the state this past spring and summer. The Center Of A Major Recruiting Battle If McCormack played a game during the three July evaluation periods, there is a good chance NC State had a coach watching him. The 6-10, 260-pounder saved his best for last in helping lead Team Loaded VA to the title at the adidas Summer Championship July 26-30 in Las Vegas. He averaged 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game during the tournament. At the adidas Gauntlet Finale in mid- July in Spartanburg, S.C., McCormack averaged 12.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and shot 48.7 percent (19 of 39) from the field. He also posted 16.0 points and 9.0 re- bounds per game while shooting 66.2 per- cent from the field in eight regular season games on the adidas circuit. ■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING NC State Is Targeting Prospects In Virginia Rivals.com ranks David McCormack — a 6-10, 260-pound center from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy — as a four-star talent and the No. 37 overall prospect in the class of 2018. PHOTO BYJACEY ZEMBAL