Pack Signs Aussie Center

I have been waiting for a news article on Jordan Vandenberg to link to, but it doesn’t seem forthcoming. So, here’s a link to The Wolfpacker, with very little information.

My take is that Vandenberg is a 7-foot center project. However, that is not a criticism. He’s not a bad fallback option when you miss on elite lowpost prospects. And unlike Josh Davis, he did have an offer from another major program (USC), and another legitimate mid-major program (Nevada). So it doesn’t require blind faith – which obviously, Lowe and company haven’t shown they deserve – to have some cautious optimism.

Vandenberg’s role in 2009-10 should be extremely limited, but it does give NC State a 4th lowpost option for whenever two of Smith, Howell, and Horner get in foul trouble. I can’t imagine he’ll contribute much when he’s in the game as a freshman, but his height alone makes that preferable to, say, Johnny Thomas at the 4 while Horner plays center.

As a junior and senior, Vandenberg’s ceiling is probably that of a very useful player from a similar background – Georgia Tech’s Luke Schenscher.

Here’s a quote from Noah on another thread, which I agree with 100%:

I don’t mind taking a flyer on a seven footer (who doesn’t have arthritic knees and a heart condition). It’s guys like Davis or 6-0 unranked point guards that I question this late in the season.