The N.C. State Wolfpack entered the offseason with a roster reshaped by graduation and the unexpected return of Will Wade to LSU, leaving the program with a near‑empty slate.
Rebuilding the Roster
Head coach Justin Gainey has responded by securing two open scholarships and assembling a group that blends experience with versatility, a move he says is driven by player fit and long‑term commitment.
Central to the plan is the pursuit of Ven-Allen Lubin, a plaintiff in the NCAA’s ‘5‑for‑5’ lawsuit, while also courting Florida transfer Micah Handlogten, who lists the Wolfpack among his top three choices.
The incoming class includes international forward Robert Jurkovic and junior‑college standout Shah Hall, both of whom add size and skill to a frontcourt that already features Kyle Evans and Eemeli Yalaho as the projected starters.
Defensive Identity
Rotational depth will be provided by Zymicah Wilkins, RJ Keene and Comeh Emuobor, while Paul McNeil can slide between guard and forward, giving Gainey flexibility in matchups.
Analyst Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports predicts the Wolfpack will hover on the bubble, relying on Evans’s shot‑blocking presence and a defensive identity that aims to avoid the eight losses in the last ten games that plagued the previous season.
Jon Rothstein has noted that the blend of defensive grit and roster depth could make the Wolfpack a surprise contender as the new campaign approaches.