This was finally supposed to be the year, when for the first time in recent memory, that the NC State Wolf pack were supposed to overtake or at least challenge ACC stalwarts UNC and Duke in the race for Atlantic Coast Conference supremacy.
After doing an outstanding rebuilding job in his first season, leading the Pack to an impressive 24-13 mark and a Sweet 16 berth, coach Mark Gottfried has arguably assembled the most potent NC State roster since the glory days of the early 80’s when Jim Valvano was winning the ’83 NCAA Championship.
Alongside potential future pro players CJ Leslie and Lorenzo Brown for next season, Gottfried has reeled in a Top 10 recruiting class featuring 3 immediate impact Top 100 rated players like Dwyane Wade clone Rodney Purvis, forward TJ Warren, and PG Tyler Lewis, who may remind many of a young Steve Nash.
But those hopes of making a deep NCAA run next season seemingly took a hit when over the Summer, consensus Top 20 recruit Purvis was ruled ineligible and his status in limbo over the NCAA dragging their feet reviewing his HS transcripts at the small prep school Upper Room Christian.
But after doing their due diligence, the NCAA has finally cleared the former McDonald’s All American and Jordan Brand Classic MVP for all basketball related activities. This comes on the heels of more good news looking forward for the Pack as Gottfried has secured a commitment from elite level 5 star PG Anthony “Cat” Barber for the ’13-’14 season. Barber is a consensus Top 10 recruit that reminds many of Allen Iverson as a gritty, tough, cornrow laden PG that scores in bunches.
So, it looks like the Wolfpack will now be in the mix for future ACC titles as well along with newcomers Syracuse, Pitt, and Notre Dame joining the conference in coming seasons.
Does the Wolfpack have enough horses to overtake Duke and UNC in 2013?
Check out Rodney Purvis’ Senior Season Mixtape:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
