No, N.C. State didn’t get John Wall.
But on the final day of the spring signing period (Thursday), the Wolfpack’s basketball future looks brighter than it did at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Coach Sidney Lowe desperately needed to add punch this spring to a front line that was scheduled to have just three players – Dennis Horner, Tracy Smith and Richard Howell – to fill two positions.
Lowe delivered, landing 6-foot-9 DeShawn Painter of Hargrave Military Academy, one of the few top-100 players who hadn’t already committed to a school.
Seven-foot Australian Jordan Vandenberg and 6-6 Josh Davis of Raleigh’s Athens Drive High also signed in the spring, giving N.C. State a six-player class ranked No. 11 in the nation by ESPN.com.
The prize of the class remains Lorenzo Brown of Roswell, Ga., who can play point guard and shooting guard.
Scott Wood gives the Wolfpack a pure shooter with some potential, and Howell is an athletic, top-100 big man who can play either forward spot at 6-7.
It’s a class that demonstrates that Lowe has some skills as a recruiter after his third full season. He got off to a rough start in that aspect of his job as he made the transition to college coaching from the NBA.
Lowe also has a top-50 point guard committed in the Class of 2010 in Ryan Harrow of Marietta, Ga.
N.C. State still realistically doesn’t have a good shot at gaining an NCAA Tournament bid next season because Lowe’s first few recruiting classes weren’t stellar.
But the 2009-10 team no longer looks painfully thin in the post.
And players like Brown, Howell, Painter and Harrow are good enough to form the nucleus of an NCAA Tournament contender in the future.
After two straight seasons with no postseason berth, that’s a welcome glimmer of hope for Wolfpack fans even after coveted Raleigh Word of God Academy guard chose to leave his hometown and play for Kentucky.
Comments
I love Sidney Lowe, and I love NC State, BUT......
Fri, 05/22/2009 - 07:28 — HallStyleAfter what he has done the last couple of seasons, if he doesn't give the fans something this year he will definetly be on the chopping block.
Last year was a wasted year for the pack. As was the year before that. The only bright spot out of last year was Tracy Smith. He showed me something.
It just doesn't seem to me that Lowe knows the kind of Offense he wants to run. The ONE thing everyone knew about Herb Sendek was you knew the kind of Offense he was going to run and the kind of Players he was going to get to run that offense. I can't say the same about Lowe.
sorry bb
Sun, 05/31/2009 - 08:36 — bluecatcan you say coach calipari????????????
Forget the last couple of seasons
Fri, 05/22/2009 - 08:54 — JPDOhioSid's first year was with a team that had absolutely no depth and no on-floor leadership when Atsur went down. Sid did mismanage the addition of Hickson to the team in his second year, but he learned from that debacle and imposed more discipline the following year.
In his third year, he did as much as he could with 3 key players who each had issues (McCauley-great heart, limited talent, Fells-injuries, inconsistent play, Costner-classic underachievement). I thought that the coaching job Sid did with what he had to work with on that team was quite good.
Sid now has a talented group that is very young. The ups and downs that we will likely see next year are inevitable. However, the incoming roster has the potential to be very good if they stay for 3 or 4 years (which seems likely). So next year is not the key, but the next 2-3 years are.
If Sid cannot succeed as as this group becomes sophomores and juniors, then the chopping block will appear and his departure will be swift. Personally, I hope that Sid succeeds and believe that he will.
looks like Sidney Lowe is
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 22:33 — swisspfaulooks like Sidney Lowe is catching up with Chuck Amato, good at recruiting talent and bad at coaching them, looking forward to another high expectation low performance season
We'll see.
Fri, 05/22/2009 - 08:38 — JPDOhioI don't think it is fair or reasonable to compare Sid to Chuck. Chuck came to State with years of experience in the college game. He had an ego unmatched by anyone this side of Congress and could not manage a coaching staff or a team to save his life or his job. The constant changes in his staff and the undisciplined play of his teams show that.
Sid came from the NBA and, granted, took some time adjusting to the college game. He made mistakes (especially in his second year), but seems to have learned from them. His staff appears to be loyal to him, with changes happening in the normal course of guys moving up in their chosen profession.
I don't see next season as a high expectation, low performance proposition. Expectations are not likely to be high, as the Pack will be talented, but very young. The team's performance may be uneven, but at least it will be with young players with the potential to improve, as opposed to 3-4 year starters who have maxed out the ability and potential. I expect the team to improve as the season goes on and return to upper echelon of the ACC in 2-3 years.
Agree
Fri, 05/22/2009 - 11:36 — SurferNice post JP. These are the type of players that Sid needs, good talent that will stay around for 2-3 years.
Good job by Sid and his staff
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 21:12 — JPDOhioThe Pack will be young next year, but it should be exciting to watch. I don't expect much improvement in the won-loss column, but I do expect the team to get better as it gets experience.
bottom feeders
Sun, 05/31/2009 - 08:48 — bluecatncs will always be at the bottom of the acc, but you guys didnt want aything to do with coach calipari!!!!!!!!!!!! go duke..
slight correction
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 15:01 — izzykareemHarrow has recently been upgraded to a 5* top25 player, but thats just one recruiting service.
Still top-50 at Prep Stars
Fri, 05/22/2009 - 12:14 — patmacgroine69Harrow is No. 47 in the new Spring edition of Recruiter's Handbook. He's the 12th-best PG.