The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/89497
BKB PREVIEW 12-13 coach Kellie Harper — who began recruiting Gatling while she was still coach at Western Carolina — believe that the combination of Gatling's soft touch, footwork and under- standing of the game with the experience and assets supplied by the returning veterans in the Pack's frontcourt will help the 6-5 post reach — and possibly exceed — the lofty expectations that are surrounding her. "My last year at Western, we had a player, Brook Johnson [a 6-4 junior who holds the career blocked shot record for the Cata- mounts] who made an immediate difference with her presence on the court," Harper said. "We haven't had someone like that here — until Keisha. In the right situation, especially one on one, there's probably not five posts in the country that are better." McCormick feels Gatling possesses all the physical tools — size, athleticism, agility, what she terms "incredible hands" and the speed to keep up on the break — to chal- lenge any post in the ACC this season. "No one in the conference has her strength and skill set," McCormick said. "When she walked into the weight room the first time, our strength and conditioning coach's jaw hit the floor. What Keisha needs to work on is that mindset that she can dominate anyone inside, the desire to want the ball every time she gets on the block. "At Florida Gulf Coast, she wasn't empha- sized in their system — most of her points came off offensive rebounds. Here, the ball is going to go through her, and if she has the opportunity to get to the basket we want her to take it." McCormick is counting on daily practices with returning sophomore Kiana Evans to help Gatling develop that aggressiveness. Evans, despite limited playing time as a freshman last season, proved to be the Pack's most physical inside presence, even with a relatively short 6-1 frame. "You take Kiana and add two or three Sophomore Kiana Evans proved to be NC State's most physical inside presence last year despite standing just 6-1, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game. PHOTO BY ROB BRADLEY No. Name 44 Kody Burke ■ 2012-13 NC State Frontcourt Pos. 41 Lakeesa Daniel 34 Markeisha Gatling C 80 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 42 Therany Dunnigan 52 Kiana Evans F/C F F F Ht. 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-5 Class Jr. R-Jr. So. So. Jr. Hometown (Previous School) Northridge, Calif. (Notre Dame HS) Raleigh (Florida Gulf Coast CC) inches and she's one of the best posts in the country because she has the mentality of a true low-post player," McCormick said. "Last year, she got on the block and no one could move her. She's learned to control her body better over the summer — last year she just ran over people — but she's still giving our guys we practice against problems. "She's been one of our most consistent Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (Oak Hill Academy [Va.]) Cleveland (Midpark HS) McKinney, Texas (Boyd HS) in practice because she's used to the pace of the college game now and she's in better condition than a year ago, which hopefully means we can get more effective minutes from her. And finally having someone like Keisha who can match Kiana physically will help them both." A third option in the post is returning sophomore Therany Dunnigan. Another un- dersized (6-2) swing player who can play