The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/896287
46 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2017-18 BY MATT CARTER N C State senior forward Abdul-Malik Abu is in a position he might not have envi- sioned for himself earlier in his career — the wise veteran on the roster. Two years ago, Abu was close to leaving Ra- leigh. He put in his name for the NBA Draft to get feedback and seriously contemplated either foregoing his eligibility to pursue his professional dreams or maybe even exploring other college avenues. Ultimately, Abu decided to return to NC State for his junior season. And when it was over, de- spite a coaching change from Mark Gottfried to Kevin Keatts, Abu never flinched when thinking about his future this time — he was staying at NC State. He did not even enter his name into the NBA Draft for feedback this offseason. Abu is set to become what is increasingly rare these days in college basketball — a four-year player at the same school. The fact that his play- ing days in Raleigh are approaching an end is not lost on him. "I have been reflecting on it most of the offsea- son and most of the fall," Abu said. "It's a blessing to have made it this far. "It's a little sad that I have to go, but I'm ready to give it everything I have this year and move on with my life. It's going to be fun." Keatts joked in his introductory press confer- ence that Abu would lead the country in dunks. During his media day press conference, Keatts only slightly backtracked when asked if he wanted Abu to get 100 dunks this year. "Maybe 95," Keatts said. What Keatts is seeking more than Abu's custom- ary highlight antics above the rim is leadership. The same is said for Abu's fellow upperclassman in the frontcourt, fifth-year senior post Lennard Freeman. "The challenge that I have with Malik is I want Malik and I want Lennard to both be leaders," Keatts said. "They are guys who have been in the program [at least] four years. "I want them to take ownership into their pro- gram, and I need those guys to have great years for us to be successful." Abu is ready to accept Keatts' challenge. "With Lennard being here five years and me in my last year, we've seen a lot of changes," Abu said. "We have been on winning teams, and we have been on struggling teams. "We need to show these new guys there is a way to go about this and a way to do this the right way. We have seen both sides." When Abu was a freshman, he played an integral role on one of the better NC State hoops squads in recent history. That team won at UNC and Louisville, beat Duke and Syracuse at home during ACC play, and eventually reached the Sweet 16 by upsetting top-seeded Villanova in the second round. However, the past two years, which in- cluded high expectations last season in par- ticular, NC State faltered to sub-.500 overall records and just nine wins total in ACC play. Those experiences have prepared Abu for his last campaign, and it hasn't fazed him that it will be with a new coach. "It generally feels the same," he said. "I get to put on the same jersey. We have the same beautiful fans, beautiful support, beautiful people that we're surrounded with. "We have been blessed with a new staff that brought in a new culture. It feels the same — it feels like we are getting ready for another season in Raleigh to take on the ACC." Abu's intention is to lead by example this year. "I want to show that I have been here and that I have some experience in the ACC," he noted. The expectations are likely to be lower in Abu's final season than any he has been a part of for the Wolfpack. His aim, though, is to help lead his squad to a big first season under Keatts. "My biggest goal for State and for everything is I want to leave this place better than what it was when I first got here," Abu said. "I feel like I have some unfinished business. … I feel like I owe it to the fans and owe it to the supporters to go out here and give it one more run and do something big. "My heart is set to just be as professional as I can be and leave on top." Freeman concurred with Abu's thinking. "I tell him all the time that we can't go out sad," Freeman said. "That is our slogan." It would be a rewarding legacy for a player who nearly had a premature departure. ■ TAKING OWNERSHIP Senior Forward Abdul-Malik Abu Aims To Finish His Career Strongly