Projected NC State Basketball Roster

09-10 Basketball Basketball Recruiting113

Since the news of Justin Gainey’s departure for Elon became public today, we thought we would also update from previous roster changes entry.

On paper, State’s starting lineup looks like: Javier Gonzalez at the point, Brown at the 2-guard, C.J. Williams at small forward, Howell at the 4 and Smith at center.

Off the bench State has guards Julius Mays, Farnold Degand and Wood. At forward, Dennis Horner and Johnny Thomas are the other returning scholarship players, plus Davis.

Additionally, Ken Tysiac has added a great blog entry about the Wolfpack’s prospects next year that can be seen here.

When you look at the roster the Wolfpack has returning, it’s impossible to deduce that the team will be better off without Costner and reserve guard Trevor Ferguson, who also is leaving.

[snip]

As a whole, this roster will not scare North Carolina when it gets off the bus next season at the Smith Center. Against the rest of the ACC, N.C. State might hold up OK because there is a lot of backcourt talent leaving from the traditional middle-of-the-pack schools.

Toney Douglas, Tyrese Rice and Jack McClinton all were seniors, and Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez has already announced his intention to test the NBA waters.

But hoping the competition falls back to N.C. State’s level is not a where the Wolfpack hoped to be in Sidney Lowe’s fourth season.

Coach Sidney Lowe’s incoming recruiting class might turn out to be his best yet. But the members of his past classes will be sophomores and juniors next season comprising the bulk of N.C. State’s roster. Lowe’s initial difficulties gaining a foothold as a recruiter after coming to N.C. State from the NBA look like they will come home to roost next season.

Projected 2009-2010 NC State Basketball Roster

Senior Class
(1) Dennis Horner (F)
(2) Farnold Degand (PG)

Junior Class
(3) Javi Gonzalez (PG)
(4) Tracy Smith (4F)

Sophomore Class
(5) Johnny Thomas (Wing)
(6) Julius Mays (PG/SG)
(7) CJ Williams (Wing)

Freshman Class
(8) Scott Wood (Wing)
(9) Lorenzo Brown (PG/SG)
(10) Richard Howell (PF)
(11) Josh Davis (WF)
(12) Jordan Vandenberg (C)
(13) Hold for top player if we can get the commitment

2010 Commits
(12) Ryan Harrow (PG)
(13) CJ Leslie (hopeful)
(1) Departure of Dennis Horner if no other scholarships issued for 2009 class
(2) Departure of Farnold Degand if no other scholarships issued for 2009 class

2011 Commits
(1) Departure of Javi Gonzalez
(2) Departure of Tracy Smith

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09-10 Basketball Basketball Recruiting

113 Responses to Projected NC State Basketball Roster

  1. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 12:53 PM #

    Fun little fact

    I was walking to my Apt from class and i decided to stop by the basketball practice facility to peek in and I see Julius and CJ were running passes and takn shots together in there during the middle of the day. I supose if ur a div 1 player you shouldnt have to be told to be in the gym, but I thought it was a positive none the less…..

  2. choppack1 04/30/2009 at 12:54 PM #

    Year Overall ACC rank Post season
    1980-81 Duke 17-13 6-8 T–5th NIT Quarterfinals
    1981-82 Duke 10-17 4-10 T–6th
    1982-83 Duke 11-17 3-11 7th
    1983-84 Duke 24-10 7-7 T–3rd NCAA 2nd Round

    Grey – responding to your post. I’ve posted several times that my research has shown that several successful ACC coaches didn’t make the NCAAs their first 3 years. If Sid can be tied for 3rd-5th in conference and makes the NCAAs – I most of us will be happy. More importantly, I think he’ll be viewed differently by recruits.

    If he doesn’t make the tourney in his 4th year and doesn’t finish in the upper half of the conference can we stop the Coach K comparisons?

  3. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 12:58 PM #

    update:

    Scout.com has re-evaluated the 2010 class and Ryan Harrow took a jump!!!! Scout now lists him as a 4 Star recruit, the #50 player overall in the 2010 class and the #10 Point Guard in the class.

    If they did this before the summer, imagine what he will be AFTER the summer when everyone around starts talking about him….

  4. Noah 04/30/2009 at 12:58 PM #

    I’ve posted several times that my research has shown that several successful ACC coaches didn’t make the NCAAs their first 3 years

    Let’s make two lists…

    On the first one, we’ll put the coaches that didn’t make the tournament after three years and DID succeed.

    On the second list, we’ll put the coaches that didn’t make the tournament in their first three years and failed.

    Which list is longer?

  5. wufpup76 04/30/2009 at 12:58 PM #

    The discussion is moving away from roster talk and upcoming season prospects to Sidney Lowe job status …

    Definitely connected, but just saying … this thread could devolve quickly

  6. pakfanistan 04/30/2009 at 1:03 PM #

    You don’t need me to point out the logical fallacy of using the absolute, most-extreme cases as proof of anything, do you?

    Drop enough acid and you too can play guitar like Jimi Hendrix!

    I don’t think he was trying to prove anything. I think he was trying to make the point that we should withhold judgment on Josh Davis until we see him in action. Because hey, if a guy that was cut in 10th grade can become Michael Jordan, then maybe Josh Davis can become a decent role player.

    Noah’s right. Jimmy Page was a terrible guitar player when he first started playing, so if any of you begin learning the guitar you’ll be as good as jimmy page after a while. because greywolf says so.

    No, actually, that’s not what he said at all.

  7. McPete 04/30/2009 at 1:05 PM #

    if i can have a quick threadjack, i saw this story on packpride’s message board.

    http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/043009/foo_434866339.shtml

    it appears DE Michael Lemon will be able to transfer to nc state this fall. This is the juco guy who was dismissed from Georgia after beating someone up pretty bad. He should help immediately next season. our D line could be very nasty. he will have two years of eligibility left.

    BJD: Thanks – there’s a Lemon thread up now.

  8. McPete 04/30/2009 at 1:06 PM #

    packfanistan,
    he said coach K had three bad years in the beginning. it was in another post from this thread.

  9. Greywolf 04/30/2009 at 1:10 PM #

    whtefang,
    Not picking at you but picking up from you — ” he was “cut” from the varsity team in the 10th grade and had to play JV instead – not that unusual for a 10th grader”
    `
    IMO this points to how times are changing. Aren’t our 2011 targets in the 10th grade now? What a crap shoot. BTW I was 6′-3.5 and weighed 155 as a senior in HS and 18 mos. later was 6′-6″ and 200 lbs.
    `
    Ain’t it great to be concerned that our top 20 recruiting class may not contribute their freshman year? Sid may not be able to coach, but I can’t get it out of my mind that he DID beat Duke and UNX his first year on the job. This is likely a detriment for fans such as myself because I falsely got my hopes up.

  10. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 1:12 PM #

    check out pack pride they have a great new article about recruiting for next year. sounds like harris is on the prowl again recruiting a baltimore standout Will Barton. He’s regarded as the top shooting guard prospect in the country…..

    Cothron says,”I really like coach Lowe, We’ve developed a bond and I could see myself playing for him.”

    Look out……

  11. pakfanistan 04/30/2009 at 1:17 PM #

    I always hated those motivational speeches where someone talks about how Michael Jordan got cut or how Johnny Unitas was a 76th round pick and got cut from every team in the league…

    I’ve always loved those stories. The vast majority of people today have no idea what their limits are.

    Who cares if you strive for greatness but don’t make it? Just because you probably won’t, does that mean you shouldn’t TRY to be great (if you want to)?

  12. Gene 04/30/2009 at 1:30 PM #

    Now you say lorenzo brown wont be as good…. lets compare

    I never said Brown won’t be as good as Fells, but both Brandon Costner and Courtney Fells were 5 star All Americans, coming out of high school.

    Acting like Brown will be better than Fells, without Brown ever playing for us is a bit premature.

    I’m just holding my opinion of Brown (and Howell, Wood, Vandenburg and Davis) until I see him play for NCSU against college competition.

    Micheal Jordan

    From what I’ve read about his recruitment, he was a late bloomer. Carolina spotted him early on and built up the relationship. By the time other schools started to notice, Carolina had the jump on everyone else, including NCSU.

    On that note, I wonder if we’ll have any more head-to-head recruiting battles with Carolina? I think Ty Lawson was the last guy both NCSU and Carolina tried to recruit heavily, and we were knocked off the list pretty early on.

    I just don’t see us and them going after the same pool of talent anymore.

  13. choppack1 04/30/2009 at 1:31 PM #

    “Let’s make two lists…

    On the first one, we’ll put the coaches that didn’t make the tournament after three years and DID succeed.

    On the second list, we’ll put the coaches that didn’t make the tournament in their first three years and failed.

    Which list is longer?”

    Noah – Did I not address that in the next paragraph?

    As for the list – I’d wager to say that most coaches in the ACC DO NOT SUCCEED unless the coach the Heels or Duke. Let’s look at the ACC when I since I was a senior in college:
    UNC – Smith – succeded, Gut – succeed, Doh – fired, Roy – succeeded.
    Duke – Coach K – succeeded
    UVa – Jeff Jones – fired (but much more successful than the ones who followed), Gillen – fired, Leatio – fired.
    UMd – Gary Williams – succeeded (but fading?)
    Clemson – Ellis (mixed), Barnes – succeeded, Shyatt – fired, Oliver – suceeding – so far.
    Wake Forest – Odom (mixed), Prosser – succeeded, Dino – mixed.
    GaTech- Cremins – succeeded, then forced out, Hewitt – mixed.
    FSU – Kennedy – fired, next coach- fired, Hamilton – very mixed.
    NC STate – Robinson – failure, Sendek – mixed, Lowe – not looking good.

    The point is most coaches fail or leave w/ mixed success in this league if you take away UNC. 3 of those coaches didn’t make the tourney in their first 3 years.

    OTOH, 2 of the other coaches I’d consider a success – Prosser and Barnes – made the tourney their first 3 years.

    Note: I left out VaTech, BC and the “U” from this list. However, neither Greenberg or Skinner made the tourney their first 3 years. So, yea, I think it’s stupid to judge a program on the results of the first 3 years if doing so by the record and the idea that if you aren’t succeeding at first, you won’t succeed.

  14. Zen Wolf 04/30/2009 at 1:36 PM #

    bjd95 put the gun down! step away from the sports page and heal the hurt inside.

    BJD: No need for anyone to delete this, just making a Big Lebowski reference!

  15. BJD95 04/30/2009 at 1:38 PM #

    In most cases, I agree that four years is the proper timeframe for evaluation. The list of coaches who didn’t dance for FOUR years but still succeeded is extremely short. And almost always you are talking about marginal or mixed levels of success, not greatness.

    I would have made a move after three years due to off the court/program stewardship issues, in addition to the poor on-court results. But I can live with a fourth year. But in no way can or should Lowe be judged as if this is his first season. And it’s certainly telling to hear some people start making excuses before the season even starts.

  16. Gene 04/30/2009 at 1:39 PM #

    Gillen – fired

    Winningest coach in Xavier basketball history and built them up into a mid-major powerhouse, in the 1980’s. Had a great coaching resume coming into the ACC, but somehow couldn’t get it done.

    As far as K comparisons go, keep in mind both he and Dean Smith were in the Final Four by their sixth season.

    On the flip side, John Wooden lost his first 4 or 5 opening round games in the NCAA tournament.

    I’m sure there’s a set formula for producing successful coaches, but I haven’t found it yet…

  17. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 1:52 PM #

    Gene-

    To me Brandon Costner and Courtney Fells were the biggest dissapointments/ most overrated incoming freshman ever in states history…..

    (some would argue Dam Wilkins but Atleast he made it to the pros so he cant be counted as overrated)

  18. choppack1 04/30/2009 at 1:58 PM #

    One interesting note – of the coaches who in the same time frame are considered out and out failures:
    Doh, Les, Jones, Gillen, Leatio, Jackson, Shyatt and Kennedy – I think several of those DID make the tourney in their first 4 years (Doh, Les, Jones, Gillen,and L I know for sure did.)

    In the mixed group, I think Odom made it his 2nd or 3rd year, Sendek – his 6th, Cremins – his 3rd or 4th, Hewitt – his first, and Hamilton – his – what 6th??

    And hey guys, hats off to UVa for being the only school w/ 3 “failures.” But please note, 2 of their “failures” had a greater single accomplishment than Hamilton and HWSBN.

  19. choppack1 04/30/2009 at 1:59 PM #

    Pack Leader – I don’t think that’s fair to say for 1000 point scorers. Who knows, history may show that they were 2 of the 3 best playes of the “Lowe” era.

  20. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 2:10 PM #

    I understand where your coming from with the 1000 points, but if nobody is any good on the team, somebody has to score. Kinda like when Shawn Robinson from clemson in the early 2000’s set the scoring record at clemson. He didnt go pro, or even over seas….. That doesnt make him a great or even good player. that means nobody else on his team put the ball in the net but the team still averaged 70 points. I guess im mainly speaking of Costner not Fells. Fells seemd to give his all every night and although his skills werent where we needed them to be to start at shooting guard, he had his time to shine… but as far as costner, I firmly believe he was severly over rated coming out of High School (thanks to his dad getting his name out there)
    As i said many times during the year (and i bet 99% of fans did too) he doesnt try his hardest on every play and he refuses to get downlow and battle with big men. Im not meaning to bash former players, this isnt the forum to do that, but to me it seems like fells and Brown are simliar players coming out of hs, but brown has a few more key skills to make him a stronger acc guard

  21. Greywolf 04/30/2009 at 2:15 PM #

    [original flame war stuff deleted]

    No, it hasn’t and I’ve edited the comments. And for the record, it is not a request so much as a statement that we will not allow them. Believe it or not, I work for a living and don’t patrol comments all day and thus sometimes it takes a while to see things. – Alpha

    I went in to delete and found you beat me to it. Didn’t mean to call you out, but at least one other is reading and commenting,

  22. Alpha Wolf 04/30/2009 at 2:15 PM #

    Brandon Costner can be a great player when he puts his mind to it, or he can be dead weight on the floor when he’s not 100% into the action.

    I think the only time I really showed any real anger in the entire basketball season this year was in the waning minutes against Maryland in the ACCT. Costner was just….standing there….waiting…..while everyone else was in some kind of an offensive flow. Not creating screens, not blocking out, not posting up, just jogging towards the 3-pt arc once in while and then coming back to stand aside the key.

    Watching it just p..d me off. Most important possessions of the season and not getting gritty? That said “heart” to me.

    BC showed he could get nasty with the rock when he needed to. He also showed he could be a good defender when he wanted to. But he also showed that he could play “road crew” basketball when he wanted to as well…a couple guys working and the rest standing around watching them do it.

    Give me a guy who will do everything he can to help his team no matter the score. All the talent in the world is no good just standing there like a spectator.

  23. rtpack24 04/30/2009 at 2:20 PM #

    Noah I do not know if anyone ever answered question about Brown. To qualify now everything is on a sliding scale. It is my understanding that Brown will not know for sure until he receives his final grades. If his grades are high enough in core courses then his SAT would be good enough to qualify. If he dogs it the final grading peroid them he would have to take the SAT again with hopes of a higher score. I do have reason to believe that everyone is pretty confident that Brown will qualify.

  24. Pack Leader 04/30/2009 at 2:20 PM #

    “Give me a guy who will do everything he can to help his team no matter the score. All the talent in the world is no good just standing there like a spectator.”

    EXACTLY

    Ill take Howell giving 10 points and 110% effort every min of every game over Coster giving 15 points and 75% effort. THATS WHAT IM TRYING TO SAY.. YOU CANT WIN ANYTHING WITH HALF ASS ATTITUDES!!!

  25. Thinkpack17 04/30/2009 at 2:24 PM #

    Co-sign Alpha Wolf.

    If you only want to give your best effort when you are up and the ball is actually in your hands go be a closing pitcher.

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