North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack set to Host Yellow Jackets
1/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NC STATE WOLFPACK (12-3, 3-2) VS. GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (9-7, 2-2)
Saturday - Jan. 22, 2000 - 9:00 p.m.Entertainment and Sports Arena (19,722) - Raleigh, N.C.
BROADCASTS
TV: ESPN-Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (color).
Radio: Wolfpack-Capitol Sports Radio Network - 36 Stations (WPTF-680 Flagship);
Coverage begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off. Gary Hahn (play-by-play) and
Tony Haynes (color).
On The Internet: www.gopack.com
NC STATE VS. GEORGIA TECH:
Tonight's matchup will be the 201st meeting between NC State and Georgia Tech.
The Wolfpack leads the overall series 128-72 and is 65-46 in games played on its
homecourt. NC State has won six straight games in the series, including both meetings
last season. The Pack defeated the Jackets 75-69 in Raleigh on Jan. 2, 1999, led by a
career-best 28 points from forward Kenny Inge. Inge had eight dunks in the game and
sealed the victory with a conventional three-point play with 19.7 seconds left. In
Atlanta on Feb. 2, 1999, Justin Gainey drained a three-pointer with 15 seconds left
to give the Wolfpack a 51-50 win. Gainey then stole Tech's inbounds pass as the
Jackets attempted a last-second shot attempt. NC State got the victory despite
shooting just 33.9 percent from the field in the game. Prior to NC State's current
streak in the series, Georgia Tech won seven consecutive games played between the two
teams.
ABOUT THE WOLFPACK:
NC State is 12-3 overall, 3-2 in the ACC and was ranked
No. 20 in the latest RPI report and No. 33 in the Sagarin ratings. The Wolfpack is
coming off a 92-88 overtime loss at No. 5 Duke on Wednesday night. NC State leads the
conference in scoring defense (61.4 ppg) and turnover margin (+4.9) and ranks second
in steals (10.5). The Wolfpack is forcing an average of 20.8 turnovers per game.
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy leads a balanced Wolfpack team in scoring at 13.9 ppg.
Forwards Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton are each averaging 10.3 ppg.
PACK OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1989-90:
NC State enters the game with a 12-3 mark,
the best start for a Wolfpack team since 1989-90 when the Pack also began the year 13-3,
eventually finishing the season 18-12 overall, 6-8 in the ACC. NC State has not begun a
season better than 13-3 since 1988-89 when Jim Valvanos team had a 14-2 record, finishing
the season 22-9 overall, 10-4 in the ACC.
WOLFPACK INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS VS Georgia Tech:
LONG-TIME PA ANNOUNCER C.A. DILLON TO BE HONORED:
C.A. Dillon,
NC State's long-time P.A. announcer, will be honored at halftime of the Wolfpack's
matchup with Georgia Tech. Dillon served as the schools P.A. announcer from 1946-1999.
He was the only full-time P.A. announcer in Reynolds Coliseum from 1949-99. Dillon
called his final game in the opener of the ESA this season vs. Georgia, turning over
the reigns to current P.A. announcer, Ned Attayek.
PACK PERFECT AT HOME:
Through 11 home games this season, NC State sports a
perfect 11-0 record in the 19,722-seat Entertainment and Sports Arena and is averaging
16,212 fans per game. The dream for a new home for Wolfpack basketball began in 1983,
when Jim Valvano began a campaign to replace Reynolds Coliseum. Ground was broken on
the arena on July 21, 1997. The $158 million ESA is 770,000 square feet, more than double
the size of any arena in North Carolina, but still maintains an intimate feel due to the
large number of seats that are close to the playing floor. Approximately 2,300 courtside
seats are reserved for NC State students, while 10,000 seats are in the arena's lower bowl.
PACK-DEVILS IN CLASSIC BATTLE:
NC State's 92-88 overtime loss at No. 5 Duke
was a classic ACC matchup, easily the best game played in the league this century. At
final count, the game had 16 lead changes and 15 ties, including 10 lead changes in the
second half. Both teams took the opponents best shots and kept coming back. The Devils
jumped to an early 8-0 lead less than two and a half minutes into the game, but NC State
fought back to pull ahead by eight points, 29-21, with 6:59 left in the first half. The
Devils responded with a run of their own to take a 42-40 lead into the lockerroom at
halftime.
The second half proved no different. Duke jumped to a six-point lead, 61-55, with 10:47 left, but NC State put together a 13-2 run and led 68-63 with 6:54 remaining. The Pack held a 74-72 lead with one minute left when Justin Gainey was called for carrying the ball near midcourt. Chris Carrawells layup with 21 seconds left gave the Blue Devils a one-point lead, 75-74. Gainey slipped and called a timeout with 9.8 seconds left, but the Wolfpack was out of timeouts and was assessed a technical foul. Shane Battier hit one of two free throws, giving the Devils a 79-74 lead.
Freshman Marshall Williams converted a layup with 3.3 seconds left, then a Duke turnover gave NC State a last chance. Gainey was fouled attempting a three-pointer, but missed the second free-throw attempt. He then missed the third shot intentionally and Williams was able to follow the miss at the horn to send the game into overtime. The Blue Devils pulled away once again in overtime, but NC State cut the lead to two points with 4.8 seconds left before two free throws from Dukes Nate James sealed the win.
KELLEY COMES ALIVE:
After averaging just 6.3 points in his previous four
games, center Ron Kelley matched a season-high with 17 points vs. Duke. Kelley
attempted a season-high 14 shots in the game, making 50 percent (seven). He was
3-of-6 from the free-throw line. Kelley also scored 17 points against Purdue and
Western Carolina. Against WCU, Kelley had 14 points in the second half, including
12 straight.
WILLIAMS MAKES THE BIG PLAY:
With 0.8 seconds left at No. 5 Duke, freshman
Marshall Williams made the biggest play of his short Wolfpack career. Point guard Justin
Gainey intentionally missed a free throw and Williams tipped the ball into the basket,
tying the game at 79 and sending it into overtime. Williams driving layup with 3.3
seconds left cut the lead to three points. He finished with 12 points, his highest
total since scoring 17 points vs. Liberty on Dec. 17, going 4-of-7 from the field and
4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY:
Defense has been the catalyst to NC State's 12 wins
this season. NC State opponents are shooting just 40.3 percent from the field, while
scoring an average of 61.4 ppg. In addition, NC State has forced opponents into an
average of 21.3 turnovers per game, outscoring its foes 304-227 in points off TOs.
Nine of NC States 15 opponents have committed at least 20 TOs, led by Liberty's 31
turnovers, the most by a Wolfpack opponent since Florida Atlantic had 35 turnovers on
Nov. 22, 1996. NC State ranks first among all ACC teams in TO margin and in scoring defense.
GRUNDY NETS CAREER-HIGH 30 POINTS VS DEACS:
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy
scored a career-high 30 points in the Packs 76-56 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 16, and
has been in double figures in six straight games. He is averaging 16 points, 3.8 rebounds
and 3.0 assists in ACC play, while shooting 49.2 percent (9th) from the field and 44.4
percent (4th) from three-point range. He is fourth in the ACC in three-pointers per game
at 2.4 per game. His 30 points was the highest single-game scoring effort by a Wolfpack
player since C.C. Harrison scored 31 points at North Carolina on Feb. 21, 1998.
WILKINS STEPS UP:
After not scoring in double figures for four games
from Dec. 28-Jan. 8, NC State freshman Damien Wilkins has stepped up his play in
each of the past three games. Wilkins has been in double digits each of the Pack's
last three contests, averaging 12 points and seven boards during the stretch. He
scored a team-high 13 points vs. Virginia on Jan. 12, then had 12 points in the
Pack's 76-56 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 16. Against Duke, Wilkins had 11 points,
eight rebounds and four assists. The 6-6 freshman from Orlando, Fla., also pulled
down nine boards against UVa, his highest total grabbing 10 rebounds vs. Providence
on Dec. 4. He is ranked 9th in the ACC in rebounding at 6.7 per game and is third
among all conference players in offensive rebounding (3.27 per game).
SHOOTING IMPROVES:
NC State's field-goal shooting has improved in each of
the past four games. The Pack hit a season-best 51.3 percent (20-39) from the field
against Wake Forest and has made 47.6 percent (110-of-231) from the field in the last
four games, compared to 43.4 percent for the rest of the season. NC States three-point
shooting has also improved in ACC play. The Wolfpack is 26-of-65 (40 percent) from
three-point range in ACC play and ranks first in the league in three-point percentage.
NC State shot 29.7 percent from three-point range against nonconference opponents.
Against Duke, NC State attempted 72 field goals (making 33). The last time a Wolfpack
team attempted more than 72 FGs was on Feb. 23, 1996, when NC State was 31-of-84 from
the field in a 92-83 loss to Georgia Tech.
FREE-THROW TURNAROUND:
After shooting just 10-of-27 (37 percent) from the
free-throw line against UVa on Jan. 12, NC State made a sizzling 81 percent (47-of-58)
from the line in the past two games. NC State entered the Wake game making just 58.3
percent from the stripe, but has lifted its season free-throw shooting to 61.9 percent
(229-of-370). The all-time season low for free-throw percentage in school history is
62.6 percent (255-of-407) in 1962. Freshman Damien Wilkins, who entered the Wake game
shooting 48 percent from the line, has not missed a free throw in two games, going
13-of-13 from the line in the last two games. In ACC play, Wilkins is ranked 10th in
the ACC in FT percentage at 75 percent (21-of-28). Freshman Marshall Williams, who
entered the Duke game shooting 57.7 percent from the line, was 4-of-4 against the
Blue Devils.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT:
NC State is 10-0 this season when
attempting more free throws than its opponents in games, 2-3 when getting to the
line fewer times than foes. NC State matched a season-high with 37 free throws
against Wake Forest, making a season-best 31 (83.8 percent). In a 83-75 loss at
North Carolina, the Wolfpack attempted a season-low nine free throws. The Wolfpack
is averaging 24.7 FTAs per game.
ON THE GLASS:
While defense has been NC States calling card this season,
the team's ability to rebound has also been a determining factor in the 12-2 start.
NC State has been outrebounded three times this season and has been especially
effective on the offensive glass. The Pack is averaging 15.2 offensive rebounds
per game and had more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds against both
Maryland and North Carolina. Wolfpack freshman Damien Wilkins ranks third in
the ACC in offensive rebounds at 3.27 per game. The Pack also leads its opponents
244-183 in second-chance points this season.
SCORELESS STRETCHES:
NC State's defense has been able to hold several of its
opponents without a field goal for long stretches during games this season. Eight of NC
State's 14 foes this season have been held without a field goal for at least
five-minute periods. The Wolfpack held UNC Asheville without a field goal for
11:47. Against Yale, the Pack held the Bulldogs without a field goal for 9:55
in the first half. At No. 21 Purdue, NC State held the Boilermakers without a
field goal for 7:31 during the second half to erase a 12-point second-half lead.
Opponent Longest Stretch w/o FG Georgia 4:13 Old Dominion 4:57 Stetson 7:57 Purdue 7:31 Providence 4:55 UNC Asheville 11:47 Liberty 5:25 Tulane 4:44 Yale 9:55 W Carolina 3:40 Maryland 4:08 North Carolina 7:50 Virginia 4:06 Wake Forest 10:23 Duke 7:52
DEFLECTIONS AS DEFENSIVE BAROMETER:
Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek charts
deflections as a barometer for defensive play and the Wolfpack has averaged 51
deflections per contest this season. According to Sendek, 60 deflections in a game
is an outstanding defensive effort, and the Wolfpack has surpassed that total in
three games this season. Last year, NC State averaged 40 deflections per game.
STEALS AND BLOCKS:
Included in the deflection total are steals and blocks,
stats the Wolfpack has excelled in this season. The Wolfpack has averaged 10.5 steals
(second in ACC) and 4.6 blocks per game. NC State has had 12 or more steals in 9-of-15
games this season, including a season-high 19 steals vs. Liberty, matching the second-best
total in school history. The Pack also had 19 steals against Florida Atlantic in Sendek's
first season as the Packs head coach (11/22/96). Sophomore Anthony Grundy has 34 steals in
13 games. He had seven steals vs. UGa and five against Providence. Five different Wolfpack
players have recorded at least four steals in a game this season. Justin Gainey had five
steals vs. Liberty, while Marshall Williams had five against Yale and North Carolina. NC
State had a season-high eight blocks against Yale on Dec. 28, the most by a Wolfpack team
since Dec. 23, 1995, when NC State had eight swats against Cal-Poly SLO.
Opponent Steals Blocks Georgia 13 5 Old Dominion 7 7 Stetson 12 3 Purdue 13 7 Providence 12 7 UNC Asheville 12 4 Liberty 19 5 Tulane 3 4 Yale 16 8 W Carolina 9 3 Maryland 13 4 North Carolina 13 0 Virginia 4 4 Wake Forest 7 4 Duke 5 4
DEFENSIVE STOPPER:
A quick look at Anthony Grundy and it's easy to see how
the 6-2 guard could be a great defensive player. Grundy has |ong arms and exceptional
quickness. In fact, his wingspan (from fingertip to fingertip) was measured at 6-6,
while most peoples wingspan is equal to their height. He is second in the ACC in steals,
averaging 2.5 per game. He has had three of more steals in six games this season. In the
Pack's win over Georgia on Nov. 19, he recorded a staggering seven steals,
the third-highest single-game total in school history. He had five steals
against Providence, including a pick and ensuing layup with 15 seconds left
that sealed the Wolfpack win. Grundy has also drawn a team-best nine charges this season.
FIXTURE:
Many ACC followers remember Justin Gainey as the baby-faced
freshman who played every minute of the 1997 ACC Tournament as the eighth-seeded
Wolfpack made a run to the championship game. Gainey, who earned all-tournament honors,
became the first player in ACC history to play all 40 minutes in four tournament games.
Now the teams senior captain, Gainey ranks second among all current ACC players in career
minutes played with 3,268 minutes logged (behind UNCs Ed Cota). Gainey rarely saw the
bench last season, averaging 35.9 minutes per game in ACC play, but this year he has
gotten more of a break, logging 28.8 mpg. For his career, Gainey has played an average
of 30 mpg (109 games).
THORNTON BACK TO OLD FORM:
For the first time since early in his
freshman season, forward Damon Thornton can finally say hes healthy. The 6-8
junior from Norfolk, Va., had the first offseason and preseason of his college
career this summer and fall, and has regained much of the explosion he showed
as a freshman, when he earned ACC All-Freshman honors and finished second in the
voting for Rookie of the Year (to UNCs Ed Cota). Thornton is averaging 11.8
points and 6.8 rebounds in ACC play and scored 15 points against both Maryland
and UNC. He has been in double-figures in five of the past seven games.
Thornton recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games against Yale (16-10)
and Western Carolina (11-13).
THORNTON AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN FG %:
While NC State has struggled
shooting the ball this season, Damon Thornton has continued his accurate touch,
making 54.8 percent (63-of-115) of his shots from the field. Thornton now ranks
second in school history in career field-goal percentage at 57.3 percent (227-of-396).
He is also being more aggressive on the offensive end, averaging 7.7 shot attempts per
game this season. Prior to this season, Thornton had averaged 4.8 field-goal attempts
per game.
DUNKING BIG MEN:
NC State forwards Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton have
combined for 38 dunks through 15 games this season, 36.5 percent of the duo's made
field goals. Thornton had four dunks against Maryland, including an emphatic slam over
seven-footer Mike Mardesich. For Inge, 18 of his 41 field goals (43.9 percent) have been
on dunks, while last season 47 of his 112 made field goals (42 percent) were dunks. Last
season vs. Georgia Tech, Inge had seven slams en route to a career-best 28 points.
INGE RETURNS FROM KNEE INJURY:
NC State junior forward Kenny Inge returned
to the Wolfpack lineup against Liberty (Dec. 17) and is back to his old ways. Inge
missed just 22 days after suffering a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament
in his left knee against Old Dominion on Nov. 23. Though the injury did not require
surgery, he was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, returning in early January. Since returning
to the lineup, Inge has been in double figures in seven of the nine games he has played in.
He had a season-high 15 points against Western Carolina on Dec. 30 and pulled in a
season-best nine boards against Maryland (Jan. 6).
INGE GETS TO THE LINE:
Junior forward Kenny Inge has recorded 33.8
percent (272-of-805) of his career points from the charity stripe. He has averaged
5.4 free throw attempts per game during his career (75 games) and has made 67
percent (272-of-406) of his career free-throw attempts.
POINTS IN THE PAINT:
The Wolfpack has had a decisive advantage over
its opponents in the paint this season. Through 15 games, NC State has 468 - Points
in the Paint* compared to 349 for its foes.
GAINEY'S GAME WINNERS:
Justin Gainey's 12-footer with 1.8 seconds left
against Maryland was the senior point guards third game-winning shot in the last
two seasons. Earlier this season, Gainey knocked in a three-pointer with 14 seconds
left at Purdue. That shot looked strikingly similar to the seniors game-winner at
Georgia Tech last season. Against the Yellow Jackets, Gainey slipped behind a ball
screen and drained a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to give Wolfpack a 51-50 lead.
Gainey then stole Techs inbounds pass with two seconds left to seal the win.
WHEN GAINEY'S IN DOUBLE FIGURES:
Over the past four seasons, NC State has
been very successful when senior point guard Justin Gainey scores in double figures.
The Wolfpack is 24-5 when Gainey gets at least 10 points. He has scored in double figures
in six of the Wolfpack's last 10 games this season. Gainey had all 14 of his points
against the Terps in the second half, going 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from
three-point range following the halftime break. Against Wake Forest, Gainey finished
with 13 points going 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
SOLID AS A ROCK:
Call him the "Prudential Man." That's how Herb Sendek
refers to point guard Gainey, who he says is *rock solid.* Gainey may be the
poster-child for improvement as he has continued to get better throughout his career.
Gainey increased his three-point and free-throw shooting percentages by at least 10
points each last season. He went up an incredible 22 percent at the free-throw line
(from 65.4 percent in 98 to 87.4 percent last year), finishing with the third-highest
percentage in school history. Gainey also improved his field-goal percentage by five
points (from 37.1 percent in 98 to 42.7 percent last year). This season, Gainey is
shooting 43.3 percent from the field. As a freshman, he began the year by committing
24 turnovers in the Pack's first 16 games, but had just eight TOs in the final 10 games.
PRODUCTIVE BENCH:
NC State has used a deep bench in each of its first
15 contests, playing at least nine people in each game. Wolfpack reserves have
outscored opponent reserves 325-174 this season and NC State is getting an average
of 21.7 ppg off the bench. The Wolfpack bench outscored Dukes reserves 35-8 on Jan. 19.
Center Ron Kelley came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points. The deep bench
has also allowed NC State players more rest than in previous seasons. No NC State
player is playing more than 30 mpg, while eight Wolfpack players are averaging at
least 10 minutes per outing. Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy is averaging a team-high
28.8 mpg.
BALANCED ATTACK:
Three NC State players are averaging in double figures,
led by Grundys 13.9 ppg. Juniors Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton are each averaging
10.3 ppg. Freshman Damien Wilkins is averaging 9.9 ppg, while Ron Kelley is at 9.5 ppg.
The last time NC State had more than three players average in double figures for a season
was in 1990-91 when Rodney Monroe (27.0 ppg), Chris Corchiani (16.3 ppg), Tom Gugliotta
(15.2 ppg) and Bryant Feggins (13.3 ppg) each averaged in double figures.
PACK RETURNS TO TOP 25:
Following its 7-0 start NC State returned to the
AP Top 25 (at No. 25) on Dec. 20 for the first time since Jan. 16, 1990. The Wolfpack
was the only newcomer to the poll, receiving 111 points. It had been 293 games
(3,618 days) since NC State was ranked in the top 25. It also marked the first
time NC State, Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest have been in the top 25 at
the same time since Dec. 20, 1960, when the Deacons made their lone appearance
in that seasons poll. It was only the fifth week in history that all four schools
are ranked at the same time. They were also ranked simultaneously for three weeks
during the 1955-56 season.
WILLIAMS WINS ACC ROOKIE HONORS DEC. 20:
While Damien Wilkins has
garnered much of the attention handed to NC States freshman class, newcomers
Marshall Williams and Clifford Crawford have also played prominent roles in the
NC State's early success. Williams was named the ACC Rookie of the Week Dec. 20
after scoring a team-high 17 points off the bench against Liberty. He finished the
game 5-of-11 from the field, while adding four rebounds and two steals. He earned
his first career start (in Anthony Grundys absence) against Yale and finished with
10 points.
WILKINS EARNS ROOKIE HONORS DEC. 6:
NC State freshman Damien Wilkins was
named the ACCs Rookie of the Week on Dec. 6 following two outstanding all-around
performances vs. Purdue and Providence. Against the Boilermakers, Wilkins finished
with eight points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. He
recorded the first double-double of his career against Providence with 14 points
and 10 rebounds. He led NC State in nearly every statistical category against
Stetson on Nov. 26, recording team highs in points (22), rebounds (8), assists (5)
and steals (3). Against Tulane, Wilkins had a team high 15 points.
SENDEK COACHES 200th CAREER GAME:
NC State coach Herb Sendek will
coached his 200th career game in the Pack's 76-56 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 16.
Sendek has compiled a 128-72 (.640) in seven seasons as a head coach and is 65-46 (.586)
in four years at NC State. Sendeks 100th career game was Jan. 7, 1997, when NC State
defeated Texas-P.A., 75-25. He earned his 100th career victory last season vs. Coastal
Carolina (81-50, 11/21/98).
BIG WINS OVER BIG CONFERENCES:
In the midst of an 11-2 start, NC State has
already earned impressive wins over teams from some of the nations best conferences -
SEC (Georgia), Big 10 (No. 19 Purdue) and Big East (Providence). Later this season the
Wolfpack will face the Pack-10s Arizona State. Last season, NC State faced teams from
Conference USA (Tulane and Houston), Big East (Providence), Big 12 (Oklahoma) and
Big 10 (Ohio State). In 1992-93, NC State notched wins over Oregon State (Pac-10)
and Tennessee (SEC), while dropping games to UConn (Big East) and Kansas (Big 12).
MILESTONE VICTORY:
NC State's 61-50 win at No. 19 Purdue was a
milestone of sorts. The win was the first by a Wolfpack team on the home floor
of a ranked nonconference opponent since Feb. 9, 1980, when NC State defeated
No. 9 Notre Dame, 63-55, a string of 607 games. NC State went on to finish
the 1979-80 season with a 20-8 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
NUMBER CHANGE:
Under the 1999-2000 NCAA rules changes, uniform numbers
one and two became legal to wear this season, and two Wolfpack players quickly changed.
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy, who wore No. 24 last year, switched to No. 2, while
freshman Damien Wilkins went to No. 1. They become the first players in school history
to wear those numbers. According to Wilkins, he made the switch to No. 1 to break away
from comparisons to his father, Gerald, an NBA veteran, and uncle, Dominique, a future
NBA Hall of Famer.
HOME-GROWN TALENT IN FALL CLASS:
In a year when North
Carolina's high school senior class is considered the strongest ever, NC State
announced the signing of the states top three prospects. Michael Bell, 6-9 of
Raleigh, Marcus Melvin, 6-9 of Fayetteville, and Scooter Sherrill, 6-3 of Mt.
Ulla, each signed a national letter-of-intent to attend NC State next year
during the fall signing period.
"The signing of these three players is somewhat unprecedented in my memory, as far as getting the top three players in the state of North Carolina," said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, who ranks all three players among his national top 50 seniors.
Sherrill, who led West Rowan High to the state 2-A title as a freshman and the state 3-A championship game last season, was rated No. 17 nationally by Recruiters Handbook. He averaged 23 points, six rebounds and four assists last season, making 53 percent of his field-goal attempts and 81 percent from the free-throw line. He finished as the third-leading scorer at last summers USA Basketball Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo., averaging 17.8 points per game. Sherrill had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds to lead the South team to a 124-108 win in the gold-medal game.
Bell also played in the USA Basketball Festival, averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while leading all players in field-goal shooting at 63.4 percent. As a junior at Enloe High, he averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks per game, An outstanding outside shooter capable of playing either forward position according to Gibbons, who ranks Bell 46th nationally Melvin averaged 21.2 points and 13 rebounds as a junior at Byrd High. He was the most dominant player at the N.C. Scouting Alliance Mid-Summer. Gibbons ranks Melvin No. 42 nationally.
"Scooter is a tough, hard-nosed competitor," said NC State coach Herb Sendek. "Both Michael and Marcus are very versatile and skilled forwards. We are ecstatic to have all three men join our program."
SEASON TICKET SUCCESS:
During planning stages for the new Entertainment
and Sports Arena, critics wondered how NC State would fill the 19,722-seat building.
The answer has been quite easily, thank you. Wolfpack fans, excited about the
momentum built in coach Herb Sendeks first three seasons and the first season in
the new arena, gobbled up more than 13,000 season tickets, nearly triple the highest
number ever sold in Reynolds Coliseum (4,500). Additionally, roughly 3,000 seats are
being held for NC State students, and the two Mini-Pack ticket packages are sold out.
