North Carolina State Wolfpack
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #37
Conference Rank: #6 ACC
Despite winning 21 regular season games and finishing .500 in the competitive ACC, NC State did not make the NCAA Tournament mainly due to a lack of quality wins. Kevin Keatts has now won 20-plus games in each of his two seasons with the Wolfpack. This season, NC State returns seven of ten rotation players from a year ago, including three starters. The Wolfpack also add a pair of grad transfers, which will help make them one of the more experienced teams in the ACC. NC State is primed to get back to the NCAA Tournament in 2020.
2018-19 Record: 24-12, 9-9
2018-19 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Kevin Keatts
Coach Record: 45-24 at N.C. State, 117-52 overall
Key Departed Players:
Torin Dorn, Forward, 14.0 ppg
Wyatt Walker, Center, 4.8 ppg
Eric Lockett, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Torin Dorn, Forward, 14.0 ppg
Wyatt Walker, Center, 4.8 ppg
Eric Lockett, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Markell Johnson, Senior, Guard, 12.6 ppg
C.J. Bryce, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Braxton Beverly, Junior, Guard, 9.4 ppg
Devon Daniels, Junior, Guard, 9.3 ppg
D.J. Funderburk, Junior, Forward, 8.8 ppg
Jericole Hellems, Sophomore, Forward, 5.3 ppg
Blake Harris, Junior, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Markell Johnson, Senior, Guard, 12.6 ppg
C.J. Bryce, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Braxton Beverly, Junior, Guard, 9.4 ppg
Devon Daniels, Junior, Guard, 9.3 ppg
D.J. Funderburk, Junior, Forward, 8.8 ppg
Jericole Hellems, Sophomore, Forward, 5.3 ppg
Blake Harris, Junior, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Key New Players:
Pat Andree, Senior, Forward, Transfer from Lehigh
Manny Bates, RS Freshman, Forward
Danny Dixon, Senior, Forward, Transfer from UMKC
Dereon Seabron, Freshman, Guard
A.J. Taylor, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from JuCo
Danny Dixon, Senior, Forward, Transfer from UMKC
Dereon Seabron, Freshman, Guard
A.J. Taylor, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from JuCo
Projection:
Six of the Wolfpack’s top seven scorers are back for 2019-20. Markell Johnson should be the top option as a senior this year. Johnson averaged 12.6 points, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 48.8% from the field last season. C.J. Bryce also should be in line for a strong senior campaign. Bryce averaged 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals in his first season with NC State. Johnson and Bryce have the talent to make up one of the top scoring duos in the ACC. Braxton Beverly is the final returning starter from last season. Beverly averaged 9.4 points, 2.5 assists and made 2.2 threes per game. However, Beverly shot just 36.3% from the field and will need to increase his efficiency as a junior. Juniors Devon Daniels and D.J. Funderburk will likely become full-time starters this season. Both players were transfers in their first year with NC State last season. Daniels averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.5 minutes while Funderburk averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 19.9 minutes. Jericole Hellems and Blake Harris round out the returners after both played reserve roles last season and should see increased minutes this year. Kevin Keatts brought in two graduate transfers to help with NC State’s depth. Pat Andree is a 6-foot-8 forward who started 63 games in three seasons at Lehigh. Last year, Andree averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Danny Dixon is a 6-foot-10 big man who played last season at UMKC after spending two years at George Mason. Dixon started 16 games last year and averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. A.J. Taylor is a 6-foot-7 junior college transfer who averaged 9.0 points and shot 37% from three last season. Manny Bates is a redshirt freshman who is a former four-star recruit. After having shoulder surgery last year, Bates will be healthy and play a role this season. Lastly, Dereon Seabron is a true freshman 6-foot-6 combo guard that was a three-star, top-150 recruit. NC State was arguably the most talented team to miss the NCAA Tournament last season. This year, the Wolfpack return most of that talent and should be one of the more deep and experienced teams in the ACC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 80.1 (29th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 71.3 (175, 12)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.8 (88, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.1 (198, 13)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.1 (131, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.2 (132, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.8 (168, 10)
Rebound Margin: 4.3 (47, 5)
Assists Per Game: 15.0 (58, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.5 (131, 8)
Madness 2019 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#125 Dereon Seabron
