Pack hoops recruiting creates buzz

Although N.C. State finished last in the ACC last season and was picked ninth in the conference’s annual preseason media poll, there is plenty of buzzing in recruiting circles about coach Sidney Lowe’s efforts for the Class of 2009.

During a conversation about another subject Monday morning, veteran All-Star Sports analyst Bob Gibbons brought up the Wolfpack.

N.C. State has positioned themselves where this may be just wishful thinking, but they apparently have a shot at John Wall and Derrick Favors,” Gibbons said.

Wall, a 6-foot-4 point guard Raleigh’s Word of God Christian Academy, is the top-ranked player in the class by rivals.com. Favors is a 6-9 center from Atlanta who’s ranked No. 1 in the class by many other recruiting analysts.

Gibbons said he has a “gut feeling” that Wall will choose N.C. State rather than Memphis or Baylor. But he said even if Lowe doesn’t get either of those marquee players, he will have a solid class.

Lowe has commitments from 6-4 combo guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell, Ga.; 6-7 forward Richard Howell of Marietta, Ga.; and 6-5 shooting guard Scott Wood of Marion, Ind.

“It’s a very good class,” Gibbons said. “It doesn’t have that star power, but Richard Howell is very underrated nationally. He could have a major impact as a freshman.”