This week was another indication that, once again, NC State head basketball coach Mark Gottfried is aiming high on the recruiting trail as he starts working on his roster for the 2017-18 season.
It’s an important period for Gottfried’s program. There is a lot of uncertainty looking beyond this season. Center BeeJay Anya is a senior. So is fellow post player Lennard Freeman, but he is a good bet to redshirt. Freshman guard Dennis Smith is an almost certain one-and-done, and odds are that center Omer Yurtseven, assuming he is eligible to play, will be so as well. Gottfried probably cannot count on junior forward Abdul Malik-Abu returning either, presuming Abu builds off the strides he made as a sophomore.
Fifth-year senior wing Terry Henderson could conceivably apply for a sixth year after essentially missing last year with an ankle injury, but Gottfried also probably should not bank on that, especially since one of the two years Henderson has missed was a voluntary redshirt due to transferring. Typically, the NCAA only grants sixth years to those who missed two years with injuries.
That leaves guard Torin Dorn, wing Maverick Rowan, forwards Shaun Kirk and Darius Hicks and probably Freeman for the 2017-18 team. There’s a lot of room for talent infusions.
Gottfried and his staff are pursuing some of the top players in the 2017 class. Who are they? To find out for free, sign up for basic access to ACCSports.com. Get access to the rest of this article and unlimited access to the rest of ACCSports.com when you upgrade to Premium Access! Click on the button below to view all the benefits of becoming a Premium Access member.Get the rest of the story right now with Premium Access!
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