RALEIGH — N.C. State's bench will have a different look next season. DeShawn Painter, the top backup forward for the Wolfpack, and Jaqawn Raymond, a reserve guard, plan to transfer, the school announced Wednesday.
Painter, who averaged 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior, wants to finish his career closer to his home in Norfolk, Va. to be with his ailing mother and grandmother. Under NCAA transfer rules, Painter can apply for a waiver and be eligible for the 2012-13 season.
Raymond, the last recruit signed by former coach Sidney Lowe, appeared in only 11 games as a freshman, with nine points in 29 minutes.
With Painter's departure, the Wolfpack's forward rotation will change next season. Coach Mark Gottfried is still waiting for a decision from forward C.J. Leslie, the team's top scorer, about the NBA draft and State is pursuing recruits Amile Jefferson and Andrew Young, both forwards.
The Pack, which will still be among the ACC's preseason favorites after a 24-13 finish and Sweet 16 appearance under Gottfried, will have Richard Howell, the team's leading rebounder, and 7-footer Jordan Vandenberg, who redshirted last season, in the front court.
Painter started seven games last season and averaged 20 minutes per game, primarily as the backup forward to Leslie and Howell. Painter, who's 6-9, scored a career-high 19 points against Morehead State, in the second game of the season while Leslie was out of the lineup for an NCAA suspension.
Against Princeton on Nov. 16, Painter hit the game-winning shot, an 18-footer from the top of the key with 4.2 seconds left. He also scored 18 points in a road win over Miami on Jan. 22. Painter averaged 4.4 points per game for his three-year career.
With the exit of Painter and Raymond, N.C. State has three available scholarships for next season, in addition to the three McDonald's All-Americans who have already signed. With the arrival of freshmen guards Tyler Lewis and Rodney Purvis, minutes would have been scarce for Raymond next season.
Jefferson, a 6-7 McDonald's All-American forward from Philadelphia, is considered one of the best post players in the prep class of 2012. ESPN analyst Dave Telep ranks Jefferson, who's also being pursued by Duke, Kentucky and Villanova, as the No. 25 overall prospect in the class.
Young is a 6-9 juco power forward from Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula College . He is scheduled to make an official visit to State on Saturday.
N.C. State has had six players transfer in the past three years, including guard Ryan Harrow, who's expected to be Kentucky's top point guard in 2013.
Comments
One surprise, one not so much
Wed, 04/11/2012 - 22:42 — JPDOhioRaymond's leaving is no big surprise. He clearly was the odd man out and was not likely to see much PT. Good luck, Jaqawn wherever you land.
I am surprised that DeShawn is transferring, but not under the reported circumstances. He was looking to be a key part of a program on the rise next year, but chose to leave it behind to be closer to his family in a difficult time. Who can argue with that? Not me. Good luck, DeShawn, and best wishes to you and your family.
Yes, State will have a different look and DeShawn will definitely be missed. But Jordan will be back and Thomas DeThaey has an opportunity. Plus, the outlook for targeted frontcourt recruits just got a little brighter.
Things are getting interesting.