The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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tracking the PACK Wolfpack Pals Friendships form in many different ways. Some are instant, others develop over a long period of time. Most are among peers but some span generations. Such is the case of Lou Pucillo, an All-American basketball player at NC State in the 1950s, and Bill Hensley, who was the school's sports information director and is 11 years Pucillo's senior. Hensley's job was to bring positive media attention to NC State, and Pucillo was providing plenty of it with his stellar play as head coach Everett Case's point guard. There was one problem: Pucillo was very shy and the last thing he wanted was a lot of attention. Hensley's role of promoting the school's successes turned into one of being a mentor to a very sincere, likeable and talented athlete who was more comfortable on the court than off it. "By the time Lou was a junior," Hensley said, "he was headed for stardom, so I sat down with him and explained what dealing with the news media and the public would be like and offered some solid suggestions for handling them. He was most attentive and he wrote down every word I said. "I had worked with many athletes during my career, but Pucillo was by far the most serious about his public persona. He worked hard at establishing a great relationship with the media. He ended up being one of the most popular Atlantic Coast Conference athletes ever. He was a textbook example of doing it right." By his senior year in 1959, the Philadelphia native was named both the ACC Basketball Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. He won national honors as well, including being named to just about everybody's All-America team. After Pucillo graduated, he and Hensley lost contact, but they reunited several years later and have been close friends ever since. "It probably is unusual for a publicity man and his star athlete to have a lifelong friendship, but that's the way it is with Lou and me," Hensley remarked. "I live in Charlotte and he lives in Raleigh, but we see each other often. We exchange phone calls and e-mails weekly, and go out of our way to arrange golf matches together." Two of their favorite golfing venues are the Hound Ears Club near Blowing Rock and the Linville Golf Club. Inevitably, their friendship is put aside for a little competition on the golf course. Pucillo is the better golfer, but that doesn't spoil their friendship. "He beats me all the time," Hensley said with a smile, "but so does everyone else, so I don't complain." "We have never had a cross word," Pucillo said. "We may not always agree, but it Quarterback Manny Stocker Leaves Football Program photo courtesy Bill Hensley never shows. We are different. I am a Yankee and he is a Southerner. He is old and I'm a young kid. He is tall and I'm short: You'd think it would be the other way around since I'm the basketball player. "Our relationship has been special, though. Bill was a great tutor when I was a player and I have never forgotten the many ways he helped me further my career. I give him a lot of credit for many of the good things that came my way." Hensley had the good fortune to be a mentor and sports information director for a number of great athletes during his time at NC State and, later, Wake Forest. "I have remained close to several of my players, including Dick Hemric, Bill Barnes and Jackie Murdock at Wake Forest and Claude Gibson, who went on to become an NFL star after NC State," Hensley said. "It became natural to bond with those guys. "We had a lot in common through sports and our friendship has endured over the years. My being their mentor is long over with, and friendship has replaced that relationship, and our age difference was never a factor." ■ Red And White Notebook NC State sophomore quarterback Manny Stocker has decided to transfer after redshirting this past season. Stocker could attend an Football Championship Subdivision program and be eligible right away next year, but would have to sit out a second straight season if he attended another Football Bowl Subdivision college, barring an NCAA waiver. The 6-1, 212-pound Stocker played in four games during the 2012 season, but mostly in mop-up situations. He threw one pass that fell incomplete against Wake Forest Nov. 10. He also rushed seven times for 18 yards, including 32 yards on three carries in the 37-6 win over the Demon Deacons. Stocker was 11-of-20 passing for 96 yards with one touchdown and one interception during the 2013 Kay Yow Spring Game. NC State Women's Basketball Signs Four Players Lou Pucillo (left) and Bill Hensley (right), shown at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, have maintained a lifelong friendship that began when Pucillo was a basketball star at NC State and Hensley was the school's sports information director. NC State women's basketball head coach Wes Moore has added four recruits to his ranks in the early signing period. Moore's first recruiting class at NC State currently consists of combo guard Chloe Jackson, center Akela Maize, forward Chelsea Nelson and junior college power forward transfer Carlee Schuhmacher. "So far in this class in the early signing period, I feel as though we have addressed a lot of our needs," Moore said. "All of these student-athletes come from very successful programs and they know how to win. They've been taught what it takes to be successful. They've been coached well, and we feel as though they will continue to get better and progress with us." NC State had nine scholarships available for the class of 2014, but landing post players was a major priority. The 6-5 Maize of Greensboro, N.C., who attends New Hope Christian in Thomasville, N.C., was the first to give her verbal commitment Aug. 1.The 5-9 Jackson, who attends Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist, joined the class Aug. 21. The 6-1 Schuhmacher gave her verbal commitment Sept. 19, and has two years of eligibility remaining. The Watertown, Wis., native averaged an impressive 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game in helping Des Moines Area Community College to a 24-8 mark last year. Nelson gave her verbal commitment in early November. The versatile 6-1 forward from Antioch, Tenn., can play inside and outside. Junior Women's Basketball Standout Selects The Wolfpack Southeast Raleigh High junior wing Amber Richardson knew she wanted to stay close to home so she gave her verbal commitment to NC State Oct. 23. Richardson attended a Wolfpack women's basketball hoops event, and before she could tell first-year head coach Wes Moore the good news her secret essentially leaked out. "My dad kind of spilled the beans to Coach Moore," Richardson said. "I was able to do it in person at their scrimmage event. "I really like textiles that you can do as a major, and I also like the coaching staff. They are also in the ACC. It's close by and I've been able to go on a lot of visits and see how NC State is. It's a plus that I'm near home and close to my family and brother." Bret McCormick of All-Star Girls Report ranks the 5-11 Richardson as the No. 89 overall player in the nation in her class. Richardson joins Buford (Ga.) High junior combo guard Camille Anderson as NC State verbal commitments in the class of 2015. Anderson verbally committed to NC State Oct. 6. Tamara Ards Hired For Wolfpack Track Program NC State head track and field coach Rollie Geiger has hired veteran coach Tamara Ards to handle sprints and hurdles. Ards has coached national champions, as well as numerous All-America and all-conference performers during her 11-year coaching career. "Tamara is a high-energy coach and a terrific motivator who brings vast experience and knowledge to our program in the sprints and hurdles," Geiger said. "We are committed to competing for ACC and national titles in these disciplines and she will help us achieve our vision." The former All-American spent the last year in the same capacity at Texas. Ards also spent three years as the assistant track and field coach at Clemson and three years at UNLV along with stints at Eastern Michigan, LSU and her alma mater, Colorado. 18 ■ the wolfpacker 10,12,14,16,18.Tracking The Pack.indd 18 12/5/13 3:28 PM