North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 22 Wolfpack Take on No. 21 Maryland
2/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
#22 NC STATE WOLFPACK (15-4, 5-3) vs.
#21/#25 MARYLAND TERRAPINS (15-6, 4-4)
Sunday * February 6, 2000 * 4:00 p.m.
Cole Field House (14,500) * College Park, Md.
BROADCASTS
TV: Raycom/JP - Steve Martin (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. MARYLAND: NC State and Maryland have met 122 times previously with the Wolfpack holding a 66-56 lead in the series. NC State's win earlier this season broke a string of four straight Maryland wins in the series. The Terps have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the teams and 10 consecutive contests in Cole Field House. NC State's last win at Maryland was a 90-67 win over the Terps on Jan. 29, 1989. Brian Howard and Rodney Monroe paced the Wolfpack with 21 points apiece in the victory. NC State is 19-29 all-time vs. Maryland on the road. On Jan. 6, Justin Gainey knocked in his second game-winning shot of the season, hitting a short jumper with 1.3 seconds left to give the Wolfpack a 68-66 win over the 12th-ranked Terps. Gainey finished with 14 points, all in the second half. Forward Damon Thornton had 15 points, including three dunks. The Wolfpack forced the Terps into 25 turnovers, scoring 28 points off the miscues. NC State lost both meetings between the teams last season, including a 63-50 defeat to the seventh-ranked Terps in Reynolds Coliseum on Feb. 10, 1999. In College Park on Jan. 10, 1999, the Pack's 94-58 loss to the No. 5 Terps matched the third-worst defeat in school history. NC State committed 31 turnovers in that game, the second-highest total in school history.
ABOUT THE WOLFPACK: NC State is 15-4 overall, 5-3 in the ACC and is ranked No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Wolfpack has won two consecutive games, defeating Arizona State, 79-68, on Jan. 29 and Florida State, 68-58, on Feb. 2. NC State leads the conference in scoring defense (61.3 ppg) and is is forcing an average of 19.6 turnovers per game. Sophomore guard Anthony Grundy leads a balanced Wolfpack team in scoring at 13.6 ppg., while Damon Thornton and Damien Wilkins are averaging 10.3 ppg and 10.2 ppg, respectively.
WOLFPACK INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS VS MARYLAND:
AT THE MIDWAY POINT: NC State finished the halfway point in the ACC with a 5-3 conference record, its best record at the turn since going 5-1 during the 1988-89 season. In 1990-91, the Pack was 3-3 at the halfway point of the ACC season. NC State ended the 1988-89 ACC season 10-4, finishing first in the ACC regular season.
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 14 home games this season, NC State sports a perfect 14-0 record in the new Entertainment and Sports Arena. The Pack has its longest home winning streak since earning 17 straight victories from the end of the 1987-88 season (four games) through the 1988-89 season (13 games). The Wolfpack finished with a 16-2 home record in 1988-89, the most ever home victories for an NC State team in a single season. 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 had 14 regular-season home victories last season.
NC State Home Record 1999-00 14-0 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
IF YOU BUILD IT: NC State's attendance has skyrocketed in the 19,722-seat ESA this season. Since moving from 12,400-seat Reynolds Coliseum, the Pack has already set a single-season mark for attendance with 235,382 in 14 homes games (three home games remain). The previous best for season attendance was 188,282 in 18 home games during the 1987-88 season. NC State is averaging 16,813 fans per game this season compared to a previous best of 12,120 fans in 10 home games during the 1974-75 season. This year's average attendance has increased 6,013 per game. NC State ranked 30th in the nation last year in Division I attendance, averaging 10,800 spectators per game. Based on last year's figures, NC State would rank among the top eight schools in the nation in average attendance.
HOME SWEET HOME: NC State has shot 44.6 percent (349-783) 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 (75-of-216) vs. 26.9 percent (25-of-93). NC State opponents are shooting just 37.4 percent (289-of-772) in the ESA, compared to 46.6 percent (123-of-264) at home.
Anthony Grundy's individual performance is characteristic of the Pack's play in the friendly confines of the ESA. At home, Grundy is averaging 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting 47.8 percent (65-of-136) from the field. On the road, he is averaging 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while shooting 37.9 percent (25-of-66).
Anthony Grundy Home vs. Road
Category Home Road Points 14.2 11.8 Rebounds 4.8 5.4 Assists 3.1 2.6 Field-Goal % 47.8 % 37.9 % Three-Point % 46.2 % 18.2 %
DEFENSE LOCKS UP FSU: NC State had an outstanding defensive performance in its 68-58 win over Florida State. The Pack held FSU to 32.7 percent (17-of-52) field-goal shooting, the lowest outing by an ACC opponent since Clemson shot 30.6 percent (15-of-49) from the field on Jan. 18, 1997. FSU had a season-low 18 points at halftime and went without a field goal for three stretches of at least six minutes. The Seminoles had made just 12 field goals with 2:00 remaining in the game. Earlier this season, the Pack held Virginia to 17 field goals in a 65-62 win on Jan. 12.
LEADING THE PACK: Sophomore Anthony Grundy has picked up where he left off last season, leading the Wolfpack in scoring at 13.6 ppg. Grundy, who joined the team at midseason last year and went on to become a starter and earn All-ACC Tournament honors, is also third in the ACC in steals. The 6-2 guard has a wingspan (from fingertip to fingertip) measured at 6-6, while most people's wingspan is equal to their height. He is second in the ACC in steals, averaging 2.3 per game, and is averaging 6.8 rebounds in the last four games. Grundy had seven steals in the Pack's win over Georgia on Nov. 19, the third-highest single-game total in school history. Grundy, who is averaging 14.9 ppg in ACC play, has been in double figures 15 of 18 games this season.
WILKINS - INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Freshman Damien Wilkins' quiet all-around play has snuck up on many. Wilkins is among NC State's top three in scoring (10.2 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg), assists (44), blocks (13) and steals (26). He also leads the Pack in minutes at 30.7 mpg. Wilkins is tied for 10th in the ACC in rebounding at 6.6 per game and is second among all conference players in offensive rebounding (3.16 per game). He has nearly as many offensive boards (60) as defensive boards this season (66). In ACC play, Wilkins ranks ninth in free-throw percentage at 78.3 percent.
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.
THORNTON FINALLY HEALTHY: For the first time since early in his freshman season, Damon 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 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds this season. He ranks among league leaders in rebounding (6th) and blocked shots (1.6, 7th). He had a career-best 23 points vs. Arizona State, making 10-of-14 field-goal attempts and had 12 boards vs. Florida State.
SWAT WATCH: NC State matched a season-high with eight blocked shots vs. Florida State on Feb. 3. The Pack also had eight blocks vs. Yale on Dec. 28. The last time NC State had more than eight blocks in a game was Dec. 23, 1995, when the Wolfpack recorded eight swats vs. Cal-Poly SLO. Damon Thornton had five blocks vs. the 'Noles, the most by a NC State player in a single-game since Todd Fuller also had five blocks vs. Cal-Poly SLO. Thornton ranks eighth in school history with 97 career blocks. He has 30 blocks 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. 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.
DOING IT DEFENSIVELY: Defense has been the catalyst to NC State's 15 wins this season. NC State opponents are shooting just 39.8 percent from the field, while scoring an average of 61.3 ppg. In addition, NC State has forced opponents into an average of 20 turnovers per game, outscoring its foes 359-285 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.
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 15-4 start. NC State has been outrebounded just five times this season and has a +3.6 rebound margin, third in the ACC. The Pack has been especially effective on the offensive glass, averaging 13.2 offensive rebounds per game. The Pack leads its opponents 288-235 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 second in the ACC in offensive rebounds at 3.16 per game.
BALANCED ATTACK: NC State has used a balanced scoring attack this season. Anthony Grundy, Damon Thornton and Damien Wilkins are the only Wolfpack players averaging in double figures at 13.4 ppg, 10.3 and 10.2 ppg respectively. Ron Kelley (9.0) and Kenny Inge (8.8) are both averaging better than eight points per game. 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.
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 seven contests. The 6-6 freshman had perhaps his best game vs. Florida State, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Wilkins, who entered the game shooting 28 percent from the field in ACC contests, was 6-of-7 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Over the past two games, he is averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the field and 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the free-throw line.
PRODUCTIVE BENCH: NC State has used a deep bench in each of its first 19 contests, playing at least nine people in each game. Wolfpack reserves have outscored opponent reserves 406-211 this season and NC State is getting an average of 21.4 ppg off the bench. Against Clemson, sophomore guard Archie Miller had a team-high 15 points off the bench.
LONG-RANGE BOMBER: Sophomore guard Archie Miller has scored in double figures in each of the past three games, averaging 12.7 ppg. Miller has made 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) three-point attempts and 11-of-12 (91.7 percent) from the free-throw line during the stretch. Miller does not have a two-point field goal this season. He is 27-of-79 (34.2 percent) from the floor and all 27 of his baskets have been three-pointers. The redshirt sophomore has attempted only eleven shots from inside the arc, going 0-11.
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.
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: Senior point guard Justin Gainey is one of just seven players in NC State history to rank among the school's top 10 in both career assists and steals. He has 303 career assists (10th) and 156 career steals (7th). Chris Corchiani holds the school record with 1038 career assists and 328 career steals from 1988-91.
THORNTON AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN FG %: While NC State has struggled shooting the ball this season, Damon Thornton has continued his accurate touch, making 56.3 percent (81-of-144) of his shots from the field. Thornton now ranks second in school history in career field-goal percentage at 57.6 percent (245-of-425). 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.
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. Inge has averaged 4.8 points while shooting 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from the field in the last four games.
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 73.7 percent (101-of-137) from the line in the past five games. NC State entered the Wake game making just 58.3 percent from the stripe, but has lifted its season free-throw shooting to 63.1 percent (296-of-469). Freshman Damien Wilkins, who entered the Wake game shooting 48 percent from the line, has gone 31-of-37 (83.8 percent) from the line in the last six games and ranks ninth in the league in free-throw percentage (78.3 percent) in ACC play.
GETTING TO THE LINE IMPORTANT: NC State is 13-0 this season when attempting more free throws than its opponents in games, 2-4 when getting to the line fewer times than foes. The Wolfpack is averaging 24.7 FTAs per game. 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.
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. Against Florida State, the 'Noles had three stretches of more than six minutes without a field goal.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. Ten of NC State's have been held without a field goal for stretches of at least five minutes or more.
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 Florida State 7:46
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 nine of the last 10 games. He is averaging 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in ACC play, while shooting 44.8 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.
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.
CHARTING DEFLECTIONS: Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek charts deflections as a barometer for defensive play and the Wolfpack has averaged 48.5 deflections per contest this season. Last year, NC State averaged 40 deflections per game. Center Damon Thornton leads the team in deflections, averaging more than nine per contest.
PICKPOCKETS: NC State ranks third in the ACC in steals, averaging 9.7 thefts per game. The Pack had nine steals vs. Florida State, its highest total since recording 13 steals at North Carolina on Jan. 8. Justin Gainey and Anthony Grundy ranks among league leaders in steals at 2.3 (3rd) and 1.7 (7th) respectively. Grundy had a season-best seven steals vs. Georgia, while Gainey had five steals against FSU and Liberty. Freshman Marshall Williams also had five steals vs. Yale and North Carolina. As a team, NC State had a season-high 19 steals vs. Liberty, matching the second-best total in school history.
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 3,386 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 28.9 mpg. For his career, Gainey has played an average of 30.0 mpg (113 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.
POINTS IN THE PAINT: The Wolfpack has had a decisive advantage over its opponents in the paint this season. Through 19 games, NC State has 554 "Points in the Paint" compared to 419 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 Wolfpack's 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 State's 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.
DUNKING BIG MEN: NC State forwards Kenny Inge and Damon Thornton have combined for 42 dunks through 19 games this season, 32.6 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, 20 of his 48 field goals (41.7 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.
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.
