Painter Loss Bigger Than Just X’s and O’s

When the news became public last week of DeShawn Painter’s decision to transfer from NC State, I was disappointed to say the least. Players transferring out of our program, regardless of the reason or circumstances, never feels right to me. I can’t put a finger on why exactly, but even in easily understandable cases like Painter’s, it seems to leave a sting. Maybe it’s just me.

Moreover, in the Painter case specifically, the transfer is removing a player who was becoming a very key contributor as a solid and ever improving role player. Depending upon Calvin Leslie’s ultimate decision, and how the remaining recruiting dominoes fall, the loss of Painter’s experience and steadying influence coming off the bench (yeah, you heard me….”steadying influence” is exactly what I meant to say) could be costly next season, especially early in the season while the Pack tries to work its talented but inexperienced newcomers into the rotation.

But the truth is that neither of these negatives (losing a good player and tallying another transfer in the deal to boot, that is) is the biggest loss to NC State.

Like most of you, I’ve watched DeShawn Painter play for the Pack for two seasons now. He has developed into a valuable asset on the court and has become one of my favorite players. Never at a loss for confidence (even to a fault at times, some might say), his now solid and still improving mid-range jumper is reason enough to bemoan his loss from the program. Painter’s difficult decision to transfer and his reason for doing so shined a bit of a light onto the young man and showed that he’s even a better person off the court than he is a player on it.

“It was really tough,” Painter said of the decision to transfer. “I played the majority of my career at N.C. State. We had a Sweet 16 team this year. I feel like we have a chance at the Final Four (next year). That makes it tough. But at this point, I think it’s more important that I spend time with my family, and I want to be close to them.”

When high profile athletes, both professional and “amateur” alike, are appearing in the media for less than savory reasons with seemingly increased frequency; and in a time when even the family unit itself is being questioned by some as being no longer valid or even necessary, I find it refreshing to learn about Painter’s integrity and strong family bond. I wish him the best off the court with the family issues he’ll be dealing with, as well as on the court as a new member of the Old Dominion Monarchs.

Losing Painter as a player is still not something I like. But losing a solid person like DeShawn Painter from the NC State community at large is a bigger loss, IMHO. He will, however, remain one of my favorites, and I’ll pull hard for him at ODU.

Unless, of course, the Monarchs come up against the Pack. 😉

Be sure to make your way over to the SFN Forums to catch up on all things NC State.

About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

11-12 Basketball 12-13 Basketball

30 Responses to Painter Loss Bigger Than Just X’s and O’s

  1. nav 04/17/2012 at 6:39 AM #

    100% agreement with everything. I’ll miss Paint.

  2. tractor57 04/17/2012 at 6:47 AM #

    Also a big fan – DeShawn by all accounts has been an excellent player and representative of NC State. All in for ODU except if they play the Pack.
    Whatever the reason for the transfer I’m a fan of his.

  3. Wulfpack 04/17/2012 at 6:54 AM #

    It is indeed a very big loss. He was going to be a contributor regardless of the roster. He was a big body that busted it on the court and in the classroom. I respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best. Go beat Shaka, Paint!

  4. Sweet jumper 04/17/2012 at 7:12 AM #

    Agreed. Good attitude, hard worker, good student. I will miss him and I wish him and his family all the best.

  5. swamppack 04/17/2012 at 7:44 AM #

    A good post Wufpacker.

    How many times did that little mid-range jumper keep us going offensively this past season?

    How much did that confident play and steady demeanor of his have to do with the team achieving so much this past season?

    Losing Painter is a great loss but the bright side is that we have a coach who knows how to deal with this type of adjustment.

    And by the way, Gott did a great job in running offensive sets that would get Paint open for that little jumper.

    God bless you Deshawn, sorry you had to go so soon but family does come first.

  6. coach13 04/17/2012 at 7:50 AM #

    Maybe it was his smile. IDK. But I really liked Painter. He was 1 of my favorites.

  7. otisthetowndrunk 04/17/2012 at 8:10 AM #

    I really liked Painter for all of those reasons mentioned above, but also – He wore my fav number – 0 – man’s first, and greatest mathematical invention

  8. SuperStuff 04/17/2012 at 8:19 AM #

    Loved Painter’s development. I thought this next year his numbers were going to get even better in Gott’s offense. We will miss him for sure.

  9. Hawkeye Whitney 04/17/2012 at 8:25 AM #

    I agree completely. But players jump so much these days that I think the best programs are the ones prepared to deal with unexpected changes. Let’s hope we are now one of those programs.

  10. old13 04/17/2012 at 9:16 AM #

    Thanks for everything, DeShawn! You’ve represented yourself, your family, and NCSU very well. Your attitude and priorities will carry you far in life. Best wishes!

  11. runwiththepack 04/17/2012 at 9:46 AM #

    academic all-ACC at NCSU – where students don’t get high grades for just showing up. Ahem.

    When Painter went in the game, I didn’t have the dreaded “oh, no, second stringer” feeling as is often the case. He was getting better and better, which is another testament to his character, to go along with his true “student”-athlete designation.

    You can believe I will be checking game reports from his new school hoping to see big things from him there. Very best regards, Paint!

  12. JeremyH 04/17/2012 at 9:46 AM #

    Definitely bigger than Xs and Os, he had a pretty steady ‘J’ also. (please hold your applause). Seriously though, Painter and Williams both provided some solid jump shooting which the others had not developed yet, so this puts pressure on them and the new group.

  13. BJD95 04/17/2012 at 9:49 AM #

    Plus, he had the coolest SFN-branded nickname ever. I looked forward to exclaiming “Pringles!!” Again and again in liveblogs and game threads next season.

    We will miss you, big guy. Best of luck in all facets.

  14. brickyard 83 04/17/2012 at 10:02 AM #

    I have not read all the info on this so sorry for repeating a question to the folks at are up to speed. I assume Paint can play next year at another DI school and not sit out a year? Is he graduating form NC State and then become a grad student?

    Tks,

    Go Pack….

    Wufpacker: My understanding is that the NCSU Athletics Dept. has granted Painter a full release, and he has announced his intentions to go to ODU, though I do not know if he is still enrolled at NCSU or if he has executed paperwork with ODU at this point. It is not a given that he will be able to play next season, but NCAA precedents have previously granted waivers of the requirement to sit a year for past transfers with similar circumstances. He is a rising junior, so my presumption is that he will have 2 years of eligibility remaining.

  15. ryebread 04/17/2012 at 10:15 AM #

    He was my favorite player on last year’s team. I am sad to see him go and wish him nothing but the best in the future.

    Keep smiling and keep the grades up!

  16. treznor 04/17/2012 at 10:23 AM #

    @brickyard83: He hasn’t graduated yet so may have to sit out for a year. What I’ve seen is that he’s applying to the NCAA for a hardship waiver in order to be able to play next year, but there’s nothing certain.

  17. Sweet jumper 04/17/2012 at 10:43 AM #

    I thought he was a rising senior.

  18. Wufpacker 04/17/2012 at 10:53 AM #

    ^ You’re correct, he is. Make that one year remaining.

    Please pardon my brain cramp there.

  19. Daily Update 04/17/2012 at 11:01 AM #

    He is a big loss. In the big games we won last year, he almost always played a role with key scores at important times of the game when we needed to score badly.

    He really turned himself into a player. A lot of my friends cringed when he took long jumpshots, but against the better teams we needed Painter to take those shots because easy buckets are hard to come by vs quality teams. Painter was our only big man that could hit outside shots consistently.

  20. brickyard 83 04/17/2012 at 11:01 AM #

    Thanks fellows… Sounds like he is working some type of family hardship process with the NCAA then…

    Go Pack…

  21. rtpack24 04/17/2012 at 11:15 AM #

    Great kid that always played hard and is a true student-athlete. I am sorry for his circumstances but very happy for him that he got to play this year on a very successful team and was a big contributor. In these type situations the NCAA almost always gives clearance to play without sitting a year.

  22. mikeak01 04/17/2012 at 12:18 PM #

    One thing about Tom O’brien and Gottfried is that they are showing class. Granted the Wilson transfer request (did you guys read the saga of the St John’s player leaving that didn’t get the paperwork signed) and now Painter being granted a full release.

    This should reflect well on the school as a whole. We treat players right and when things don’t work out or life happens and other things become more important we will do what is right for you.

  23. wolfmountain 04/17/2012 at 12:58 PM #

    Losing Painter is going to hurt for sure.

    He worked so hard to improve his fitness and his game. If nothing else, that is the kind of example I would like for the younger players to be looking to.

    Does anyone know exactly what is wrong with his grandmother – exactly how serious the situation is?

  24. pack76 04/17/2012 at 2:55 PM #

    One of my favorites this year as well! Sorry to see him go but wish him well. Wish he had played more this season. Did a great job when called upon. I’ll be following him at ODU as well. Praying for your Grandmother, Paint!

  25. NcStChamps24 04/17/2012 at 3:05 PM #

    Did a good job coming off the bench for us. Not happy to see him go but in the long run maybe a good thing for the program with amile jefferson and andrew young still waiting to make there decisions. Overall a good player and a great teamate.

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