Last season Kevin Keatts led the team to their first final four since 1983. An NC State Basketball preview, as they’ve gained a few transfers. The Wolfpack lost four of their six leading scorers from their 2023-24 squad, due to either entering the NBA draft or graduating. With so many new faces on campus Coach Keatts has his work cut out for him. Additionally, DJ Horne and DJ Burns Jr. are trying to earn a roster spot in the NBA. So who will be the team’s new leaders to replace those two?
NC State Basketball Preview: Building Off Last Year
The 2023-2024 regular season was a disappointing one for Keatts and company. The team finished with a record of 17-14, 9-11 in conference play, and they dropped their last four games. In a stunning turn of events, they pulled off what was possibly the greatest program turnaround in college basketball history. Doing a complete 180-degree turn, Keatts led his group to an ACC Conference Championship and their first final-four appearance in over 40 years. While it was truly a magical run, things have died down and it’s time to focus on the here and now. Introducing the four new players for NC State Basketball in their 2024 transfer class, ranked second in the ACC.
Wolfpack Transfers
Mike James, Marcus Hill, Dontrez Styles, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield will all be joining the Wolfpack for the 2024-25 season. Huntley-Hatfield was a force on the boards for Louisville last year. He averaged 8.4 rebounds per game, which was fifth-best in the ACC. James, much like Huntley-Hatfield, comes from Louisville, where he was the second-leading scorer for the Cardinals in the 2023-24 season. Hill comes from Bowling Green, where he transferred after spending his first two seasons at Southern Union State College. The former Falcon will provide a much-needed scoring punch for NC State. Last season he was third in the MAC in points per game, averaging 20.5 on the year. Styles is transferring in from Big East member Georgetown, where he was the second-leading scorer and rebounder for the 2023-24 Hoyas.
Incoming Freshmen for NC State Basketball
Paul McNeil and Trey Parker are the lone freshmen joining the Wolfpack this upcoming season. McNeil is the better-known prospect, ranked 71st nationally and 15th at his position. A native of Rockingham, NC, he comes from a state well known for its basketball prowess. Despite offers from 16 different colleges, including teams like Tennessee and Alabama, McNeil chose to stay near his hometown. While Rockingham is about an hour and a half away from Raleigh, that’s still close enough to feel at home while getting the college experience. Parker was originally supposed to join the team last year. Then, in June of 2023, he decided to reclassify and spend another year with Overtime Elite. Originally from Fayetteville, NC, Parker is older than most incoming freshmen at 20 years of age. His explosiveness and scoring ability may help him find a role in a crowded backcourt.
NC State Schedule Preview
Their entire schedule isn’t complete, but the Pack’s out-of-conference schedule is looking stacked. They’ve agreed to a home-and-home series against Kansas starting in the 2024-25 season, where they’ll travel to Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The team will be participating in the Rady Children’s Hospital Invitational, alongside Purdue, BYU, and Ole Miss. NC State lost to all three teams last season, so they’ll certainly have vengeance in mind for the mid-season tournament. In the ACC-SEC challenge they’ll be taking on the Texas Longhorns at home. The team’s in-conference schedule has yet to be revealed. Nonetheless, it’ll be a tough year with a target on their backs after winning the ACC Tournament last season.
