North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Goes to Battle with Seminoles at Sports Arena
1/31/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
#22 NC STATE WOLFPACK (14-4, 4-3) vs. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (8-10, 3-4)
Wednesday - February 2, 2000 - 8:00 p.m.Entertainment and Sports Arena (19,722) - Raleigh, N.C.
BROADCASTS
TV: Raycom/JP - Tim Brando (play-by-play) and-Bucky Waters (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. FLORIDA STATE:
NC State and Florida State have met 25 times
previously with the Seminoles holding a 14-11 lead in the series. The Noles are 10-8
all-time in games played between the teams in Raleigh. Since FSU joined the ACC in 1992,
NC State is 7-12 against the Noles. The two teams have split the last 10 meetings, but
NC State has won five of the last six games played in Raleigh. Last year, NC State earned
a 71-63 win over FSU in the final regular season game played in Reynolds Coliseum on
Feb. 24, 1999. NC State led by as much as 18 points in the second half, but FSU rallied
to cut the lead to four points. Anthony Grundy finished the game with 13 points, while
Ron Kelley (11) and Damon Thornton (10) each had double figures in rebounds. The Pack is
winless in nine games played in Tallahassee, and fell 71-59 to the Seminoles last year on
Jan. 23, 1999. NC State was outrebounded, 34-22, in the game and FSU scored 20 points off
second-chance shots. Ron Kelley led the Pack with 14 points in that game.
ABOUT THE WOLFPACK: NC State is 14-4 overall, 4-3 in the ACC and is ranked No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Wolfpack defeated Arizona State, 79-68, on Saturday. NC State shot a season-best 57.4 percent (27-of-47) from the field only one game after shooting a season-worst 30 percent (15-of-50) in a 59-42 loss at Clemson on Jan. 26. Junior Damon Thornton had a career-high 23 points vs. the Sun Devils. NC State leads the conference in scoring defense (61.4 ppg) and is is forcing an average of 20.2 turnovers per game. Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy leads a balanced Wolfpack team in scoring at 13.4 ppg., while Thornton is averaging 10.5 ppg. Junior center Ron Kelley underwent successful knee surgery on Jan. 30 and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
WOLFPACK INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS VS FLORIDA STATE:
BACK IN TOP 25: NC State is ranked No. 22 in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll, moving up three spots from No. 25 last week. The Pack was rated No. 21 in the AP Poll, marking the first time NC State has been in both polls since Dec. 12, 1989, when the Pack was No. 15 in the UPI poll and No. 16 in the AP. The No. 21 ranking in the AP poll is NC State's highest ranking since being No. 19 in the Jan. 16 top 20. Earlier this season, NC State was ranked No. 25 in the AP poll on Dec. 20, but fell out of the rankings following its loss to Tulane on Dec. 22. It had been 293 games (3,618 days) since NC State was ranked in the top 25.
WOLFPACK PERFECT AT HOME: Through 13 home games this season, NC State sports a perfect 13-0 record in the 19,722-seat Entertainment and Sports Arena and is averaging 16,608 fans per game. NC State had 14 regular-season home victories last season. The last time NC State won 13 straight home games was during the 1988-89 season when NC State began the year 13-0 at home, finishing with a 16-2 record in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack won 36 consecutive regular-season home games from 1971-75. In 1974, NC State was 12-0 at home and the Pack went 13-0 at home in 1973.
NC State Home Record 1999-00 13-0 1998-99 15-4 1997-98 12-7 1996-97 12-6 1995-96 9-6 1994-95 11-6 1993-94 8-7 1992-93 7-8 1991-92 7-8 1990-91 13-1 1989-90 10-4
HOME SWEET HOME: NC State has shot 49.2 percent (329-of-730) from the field in games played at the ESA, compared to 42 percent (126-of-300) on the road. The Pack's three-point shooting has also been better at home - 34.7 percent (70-of-202) vs. 26.9 percent (25-of-93). Justin Gainey's individual performance is characteristic of the Pack's play in the friendly confines of the ESA. At home, Gainey is averaging 9.2 points and 3.2 assists, while shooting 44 percent (37-of-84) from the field. On the road, he is averaging 4.8 points and 1.8 assists, while shooting 33.3 percent (9-of-27).
Justin Gainey Home vs. Road Category Home Road Points 9.2 4.8 Rebounds 2.2 3.4 Assists 3.2 1.8 Field-Goal % 44 % 33.3 % Three-Point % 35.9 % 36.4 %
KELLEY UNDERGOES KNEE SURGERY: NC State center Ron Kelley underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery on Jan. 30 and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks of action for the Wolfpack. The debridement procedure repaired damaged articular cartilage (which lines the bone) in his left knee. Kelley matched a season-high with 17 points vs. Duke, then came off the bench to score 12 points against Georgia Tech. Kelley pulled down a season-high nine rebounds vs. the Yellow Jackets. He also scored 17 points against Purdue and Western Carolina. Against WCU, Kelley had 14 points in the second half, including 12 straight. Kelley is averaging 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this season.
SHOOTING IMPROVES: Just one game after shooting a season-worst 30 percent (15-of-50) from the field against Clemson, NC State hit a season-best 57.4 percent (27-of-47) vs. Arizona State. The last time NC State shot better in a game was vs. Clemson on Feb. 6, 1999, when the Wolfpack hit 58.7 percent (27-of-46) of its field goal tries. The Packs field-goal shooting has improved over the last six games, making 47.7 percent (159-of-333) of its attempts from the field, compared to 43.4 percent for the rest of the season. NC State's three-point shooting has also improved in ACC play. The Wolfpack is shooting 36.1 percent from three-point range in ACC play. 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 in a game was on Feb. 23, 1996, when NC State was 31-of-84 from the field in a 92-83 loss to Georgia Tech.
THORNTON RECORDS CAREER HIGH VS. SUN DEVILS:
Junior forward Damon Thornton
recorded a career high 23 points vs. Arizona State, making 10-of-14 field-goal attempts.
For the first time since early in his freshman season, Thornton can finally say he's healthy.
The 6-8 junior from Norfolk, Va., had the first healthy 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 UNC's Ed Cota). Thornton is averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds this season.
He had 15 points against both Maryland and UNC and has been in double-figures in seven of
the last 10 games.
THORNTON AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN FG %:
While NC State has struggled shooting
the ball this season, Damon Thornton has continued his accurate touch, making 57.7
percent (79-of-137) of his shots from the field. Thornton now ranks second in school
history in career field-goal percentage at 58.1 percent (243-of-418). He is also being
more aggressive on the offensive end, averaging 7.6 shot attempts per game this season.
Prior to this season, Thornton had averaged 4.8 field-goal attempts per game.
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
25-5 when Gainey gets at least 10 points. Gainey broke out of a slump vs. Arizona State,
scoring 13 points (11 in the second half) and matching a season-best with six assists.
Prior to that, Gainey had averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 assists in the three previous games.
Gainey's three-pointer 19 seconds into the second half vs. ASU tied the score at 49.
Gainey's three-pointer with 12:42 left to play sparked a 26-8 NC State run. He was held
scoreless for the first time in 51 games vs. Clemson.
GAINEY AMONG SCHOOL ASSIST & STEALS LEADERS:
With two steals against Clemson,
Justin Gainey passed Nate McMillan to move into seventh place all-time with 151 career steals.
Gainey has 26 thefts this season. Chris Corchiani holds the school record with 328 steals
from 1988-91. Hawkeye Whitney is sixth in school history with 166 career steals from 1977-80.
Incidentally, Gainey also ranks 10th in school history with 299 career assists.
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 six contests. Wilkins, who leads the Wolfpack in minutes at 30.5 per game, is
averaging 10.3 points and 6.8 boards during the stretch. He finished with 15 points -
his second highest total of the season vs. Arizona St. on Jan. 29, and scored a team-high
13 points vs. Virginia on Jan. 12. Wilkins also 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.
Wilkins is ranked 9th in the ACC in rebounding at 6.7 per game and is third among all
conference players in offensive rebounding (3.22 per game). He has nearly as many
offensive boards (58) as defensive boards this season (63).
INGE SCORELESS VS SUN DEVILS: NC State junior forward Kenny Inge did not score in a game for the first time in his career vs. Arizona State. For Inge, it was a span of 78 games. He finished the game without a field-goal attempt and missed both free throws he tried. Inge played just 17 minutes while saddled with foul trouble. After averaging 11.7 ppg in seven games after returning from a knee injury, Inge has averaged 5.0 points while shooting 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from the field in the last five games.
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY:
Defense has been the catalyst to NC State's 14 wins
this season. NC State opponents are shooting just 40.1 percent from the field, while
scoring an average of 61.4 ppg. In addition, NC State has forced opponents into an
average of 20.2 turnovers per game, outscoring its foes 344-279 in points off TOs.
Nine of NC State's 17 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.
BOARD WORK:
While defense has been NC State's calling card this season,
the team's ability to rebound has also been a determining factor in the 14-4 start.
NC State has been outrebounded just four times this season and has a +3.8 rebound margin.
The Pack has been especially effective on the offensive glass, averaging 13.3 offensive
rebounds per game. The Pack leads its opponents 282-226 in second-chance points this season.
NC State 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 3.22 per game.
BALANCED ATTACK:
NC State has used a balanced scoring attack this season.
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy and junior Damon Thornton are the only Wolfpack players
averaging in double figures at 13.4 ppg and 10.5 ppg respectively. Three other NC State
players are averaging better than eight points per game Damien Wilkins (9.7),
Kenny Inge (9.0), Ron Kelley (8.8) and Justin Gainey (8.0). Seven different players
have held team scoring honors this season, led by Thornton and Grundy who have held
team honors six times apiece. 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.
PRODUCTIVE BENCH:
NC State has used a deep bench in each of its first
18 contests, playing at least nine people in each game. Wolfpack reserves have
outscored opponent reserves 394-206 this season and NC State is getting an average
of 21.9 ppg off the bench. The Wolfpack bench outscored Duke's reserves 35-8 on Jan. 19
and got 24 combined points from center Ron Kelley and freshman guard Marshall Williams vs.
Georgia Tech. Against Clemson, sophomore guard Archie Miller had a team-high 15 points off
the bench. The deep bench has also allowed NC State players more rest than in previous seasons.
Eight Wolfpack players are averaging at least 10 minutes per outing. Freshman Damien Wilkins is
averaging a team-high 30.5 mpg.
LONG-RANGE BOMBER:
Sophomore guard Archie Miller has averaged 13 points
in the last two games, making 7-of-11 three-point attempts. He scored a team-high 15
points vs. Clemson, hitting 5-of-9 from three-point range, then had 11 points vs. Arizona
St. Miller was 2-of-2 from three-point range vs. the Sun Devils and hit 5-of-6 from the
free-throw line. Millers performance vs. Clemson was his highest total of the season,
while the five three-pointers was the most made by a Wolfpack player since Adam Harrington
hit five three-pointers vs. North Carolina on Jan. 16, 1999. Miller had not scored in double
figures since finishing with 10 points vs. Liberty on Dec. 17, 1999. During that stretch of
nine games, Miller averaged 3.1 ppg. The 15 points was the most by Miller since scoring 16
points vs. Maryland-E.S. in the 1999 season-opener. The 5-9 sharpshooter redshirted the 1999
season with a back injury.
FREE-THROW TURNAROUND:
After shooting just 10-of-27 (37 percent) from the
free-throw line against UVa on Jan. 12, NC State has made 72.9 percent (78-of-107)
from the line in the past four games. NC State entered the Wake game making just 58.3
percent from the stripe, but has lifted its season free-throw shooting to 62.2 percent
(273-of-439). Freshman Damien Wilkins, who entered the Wake game shooting 48 percent
from the line, has gone 25-of-31 from the line in the last five games. In ACC play,
Wilkins ranks ninth in the league in free-throw percentage (75 percent).
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT:
NC State is 12-0 this season when attempting more
free throws than its opponents in games, 2-4 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 24.4 FTAs per game.
GRUNDY NETS CAREER-HIGH 30 POINTS VS DEACS:
Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy
scored a career-high 30 points in the Pack's 76-56 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 16, and
has been in double figures in eight of the last nine games. He is averaging 14.6 points,
4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in ACC play, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field. 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.
WILLIAMS MAKES THE BIG PLAYS:
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 the game with 12 points. He also had 12
points vs. Georgia Tech, going 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Williams made two free throws after the Yellow Jackets had cut the NC State lead to four
points, 62-58, with 42 seconds left, sealing the victory. Over the last four games,
Williams is averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while playing 19.3 minutes per game.
PACK-DEVILS BATTLE TO OT:
NC State's 92-88 overtime loss at No. 5 Duke had 16
lead changes and 15 ties, including 10 lead changes in the second half. The Devils took a
79-74 lead after NC State was assessed a technical foul for calling a timeout that the
Wolfpack did not have. Freshman Marshall Williams then converted a layup with 3.3 seconds
left to cut the Devils lead to three points, then followed Justin Gainey's intentionally
missed free throw at the horn to send the game into overtime. The Blue Devils pulled away
in OT, but NC State cut the lead to two points with 4.8 seconds left before two free throws
from Duke's Nate James sealed the win.
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. Nine
of NC State's 16 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 14:57 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 Georgia Tech 4:49 Clemson 8:34 Arizona State 4:23
DEFLECTIONS, STEALS AND BLOCKS:
Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek charts deflections
as a barometer for defensive play and the Wolfpack has averaged 48.2 deflections per
contest this season. Last year, NC State averaged 40 deflections per game. Center Damon
Thornton leads the team in deflections, averaging nearly nine per contest. Steals and
blocks are both included in the deflection total and the Wolfpack has averaged 9.7
steals (third in ACC). NC State has had 12 or more steals in 9-of-16 games this season,
including a season-high 19 steals vs. Liberty, matching the second-best total in school
history. Sophomore Anthony Grundy 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.
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 people's wingspan is equal to their height. He is second in the ACC in steals,
averaging 2.4 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.
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 team's senior captain, Gainey ranks second among all
current ACC players in career minutes played with 3,352 minutes logged
(behind UNC's 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 28.7 mpg.
For his career, Gainey has played an average of 29.9 mpg (112 games).
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). As a freshman, Gainey began the year by committing 24 turnovers in the Pack's first 16 games, but had just eight TOs in the final 10 games.
GAINEY'S GAME WINNERS:
Justin Gainey's 12-footer with 1.8 seconds left against
Maryland was the senior point guard's 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 senior's 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 Tech's inbounds pass
with two seconds left to seal the win.
POINTS IN THE PAINT:
The Wolfpack has had a decisive advantage over its
opponents in the paint this season. Through 18 games, NC State has 534
"Points in the Paint" compared to 405 for its foes. Against Arizona State, the Wolfpack
had a 38-14 lead in the paint.
NONCONFERENCE WIN STREAK EXTENDED:
With its 79-68 win over Arizona State on
Jan. 29, NC State has now won 47 straight regular-season games against nonconference
opponents at home. The Wolfpacks last loss in the regular season to a nonconference
opponent at home was Dec. 10, 1994, when the Pack fell 96-91 to third-ranked Kansas.
Since Herb Sendek took over as NC States head coach in 1996, NC State is 32-0 against
nonconference foes at home during the regular season. NC State did drop postseason NIT
games against West Virginia (76-73, 3/17/97), Georgia (61-55, 3/17/98) and Princeton
(61-58, 3/15/99). In the 90's, NC State is 70-11 against nonconference foes at home
during the regular season.
NC State vs. Nonconference Regular-Season Opponents At Home 1999-00 9-0 1998-99 8-0 1997-98 9-0 1996-97 8-0 1995-96 7-0 1994-95 8-1 1993-94 3-4 1992-93 5-2 1991-92 3-3 1990-91 7-0 1989-90 5-1
DUNKING BIG MEN:
NC State forwards Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton have combined
for 40 dunks through 18 games this season, 32.3 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, 19 of his 45 field goals (42.2 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.
CHANGE OF PLANS:
A record snowfall of 20.3 inches caused NC State to change
its travel plans for both the Clemson and Arizona State games. The Wolfpack was originally
scheduled to fly to Clemson, S.C., on Tuesday night via charter and return immediately
following the game on Wednesday, but the storm caused the game to be postponed until Thurs.,
Jan. 27. Instead, NC State took a five-hour bus ride to and from Clemson, S.C. It marked the
first time a NC State mens basketball game was postponed since Jan. 16, 1991, when
NC State's game at North Carolina was canceled by the outbreak of Operation Desert
Storm in Kuwait. That game was rescheduled and the teams played on back-to-back nights
on Feb. 6-7, 1991. The Pack defeated the Tar Heels, 97-91, in the game at Reynolds Coliseum,
then lost the second game at UNC, 92-70, a night later.
WILLIAMS WINS ACC ROOKIE HONORS DEC. 20:
While Damien Wilkins has garnered much of
the attention handed to NC State's freshman class, newcomers Marshall Williams and Clifford
Crawford have also played prominent roles in 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 Grundy's absence) against Yale and
finished with 10 points.
WILKINS EARNS ROOKIE HONORS DEC. 6:
NC State freshman Damien Wilkins was named the
ACC's 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
130-74 (.637) in seven seasons as a head coach and is 67-48 (.583) in four years at NC State.
Sendek's 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).
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 state's
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 Recruiter's 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 summer's 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."
