NC State basketball roster is coming together under Will Wade. Here are 5 important players
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During his debut press conference as the head coach of N.C. State basketball, Will Wade said “the Pack is back” and promised the Wolfpack would be an ACC contender as an NCAA Tournament participant.
Over the last month, Wade has put together a roster that will aim to help fans forget about a 12-19 record that included an absence from the ACC Tournament.
N.C. State is replacing its top six scorers from last season, but Wade has been busy with building a talented bunch through the transfer portal and high school recruiting. As of April 29, sophomore Paul McNeil is set to be the only returner for N.C. State.
Eight players have committed to joining Wade in what could be a Louisville-like revival in Raleigh. When Pat Kelsey arrived to coach the Cardinals ahead of the 2024-25 season, he surrounded himself with players from the portal, won 27 games and made the NCAA Tournament.
As May approaches, Wade has received commitments from two high school recruits and eight transfers. There are five scholarships remaining and more work to do in the portal, but here’s a look at five newcomers who could get the Pack back to March Madness.
Matt Able
On April 17, five-star recruit Matt Able signed with N.C. State after a stellar senior season at Sagemont Prep in Florida. Able averaged 20.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.9 assists per game in his final prep season. In a school-issued statement, Wade said he believes Able “has the chance to become a complete player” as a two-way threat for the Wolfpack. The 6-foot-5 guard is N.C. State’s highest-rated recruit since Fayetteville native Dennis Smith Jr. in 2016. Able has the look of the perfect player for Wade’s high-intensity system.
Tre Holloman
A veteran guard, Tre Holloman was a part of three NCAA Tournament teams and helped the Spartans put together a 71-35 record across his three seasons in East Lansing. As a co-captain in his junior season, Holloman averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game for the Spartans. The 6-foot-2 guard was second in 3-pointers, assists and steals as one of Tom Izzo’s most reliable two-way players. In a school-issued statement, Wade described Holloman as a “natural-born leader” and “great floor general” who got to spend three years in a “fantastic program.” Holloman has a chance to be the leader of the Wolfpack in Wade’s debut season.
Terrance Arceneaux
Like Holloman, Terrance Arceneaux comes from a winning program. After three seasons at Houston, Arceneaux figures to have an expanded role with the Wolfpack. As a 6-foot-6, 205-pound wing, Arceneaux gives N.C. State some versatility on the perimeter with a player capable of guarding multiple positions. He averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game for the Cougars. An Achilles injury sidelined him for most of his sophomore season, but Arceneaux has the tools to be a capable scorer and one of N.C. State’s top defenders.
Quadir Copeland
A winner with Wade at McNeese State, Copeland averaged 9.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as a junior for the Cowboys. He also has ACC experience after starting his career at Syracuse, where he had similar numbers as a sophomore. Described by Wade as a “tough, competitive player that wants to win,” Copeland “plays with a chip on his shoulder” and arrives in Raleigh as a good candidate to be the Wolfpack’s emotional leader.
Jerry Deng
A 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Florida State, Deng will likely be at the power forward spot for the Wolfpack. A player with the length to be a disruptor as a defender, Deng averaged 7 points on 43.4% shooting, including 37% from 3-point range as a sophomore. He’ll have to improve as a rebounder, but Deng is a solid addition to N.C. State’s frontcourt.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State basketball roster, key players on Will Wade's first team
