Our recruit and return series continues with a look at the NC State Wolfpack, who lost 94-83 to Seton Hall. Here's a look at what 2018-19 could hold:
Possible 2018-19 starting 5:
G: Torin Dorn
Who is lost: Darius Hicks is transferring. Omer Yurtseven looks to be NBA-bound. Allerik Freeman, Abdul-Malik Abu and Lennard Freeman were all seniors. That's a lot of big men to lose at once, which is why it has been a focal point of Kevin Keatts' recruiting. The backcourt could be very good in 2018-19, but they'll need to develop some players in the paint quickly if the Wolfpack are to find more consistency in 2018-19.
Who is added: Bates could quickly blossom into a star, but he'll be coming off a season-ending shoulder injury as a senior at Northwood Temple (Fayetteville, North Carolina), which means it could be a slow burn before he's ready to go. NC State also adds small forwards Jericole Hellems and Saddiq Bey, along with power forward Derek Funderburk and center Ian Steere, so there's young depth arriving. It's just a question of how soon any of them will be ready to make a real impact.
What it means for next season: Beverly was a mystery until the start of the season due to NCAA issues, and while he has proven to be a solid performer, he probably will need to take another step forward as a sophomore and shoulder more of the offensive burden. Dorn, too, will have to show improvement, perhaps doing a bit more dirty work underneath as his young counterparts find their footing. NC State has proven to be a team with a high ceiling, if all goes well. The problem is the floor might be fairly low, too.
Trending: Neutral. It's a bit too early to make bold predictions on NC State. There's a good bit to like here, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Wolfpack challenged for an ACC title next season. If the young frontcourt doesn't jell, however, it's possible they could be scuffling for a tourney bid.