The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1043000
NOVEMBER 2018 ■ 39 BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2018-19 BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State has successfully in- corporated transfers as well as anyone in the ACC during the past six years. Redshirt junior C.J. Bryce (UNC Wilmington) and redshirt sopho- more Devon Daniels (Utah) are expected to continue that trend and make a big impact for the Wolfpack this season. NC State will be in good shape if Dan- iels and Bryce can reach the standards set before them by current teammate Torin Dorn (Charlotte), plus past Wolfpack standouts Allerik Freeman (Baylor), Trevor Lacey (Alabama), Ralston Turner (LSU) and Terry Henderson (West Vir- ginia). Turner started the transfer trend when he arrived in 2012. The new recruiting theory that experi- enced transfers can come in and be more physically and mentally ready than incom- ing freshmen has altered the college bas- ketball landscape. The Pack has proven to be ahead of the curve on recruiting such players. Bryce and Daniels are just two of seven transfers who are currently on scholarship. Besides the previously mentioned Dorn, sophomore point guard Blake Harris trans- ferred in from Missouri, fifth-year senior guard Eric Lockett arrived as a graduate transfer from Florida International, redshirt junior forward Wyatt Walker is a gradu- ate transfer from Samford and junior post player Sacha Killeya-Jones will sit out this season after transferring in from Kentucky. That total doesn't even include sopho- more point guard Braxton Beverly, who technically is an Ohio State transfer but never played for the Buckeyes, or redshirt sophomore post player DJ Funderburk, who also started off at OSU and transferred to a junior college before arriving in Raleigh. The 6-5, 195-pound Bryce already has an advantage this season thanks to learning from Keatts for the last three years — Ke- atts previously coached Bryce at UNCW. That said, it still wasn't easy for Bryce and Daniels to sit out last year and watch their teammates play without them. "When you sit out, the message I try and send these guys is to make every practice their game," Keatts said. "They were a huge part of our success [last year]. We don't win 21 games and 11 games in the conference if it wasn't for those guys pushing us every day." Having Bryce, Daniels and Harris on the scout team gave the eligible NCSU players a quality look each week of the opposing team. "C.J. has succeeded with Coach Keatts a few times at Wilmington and Devon had a great year at Utah," Beverly said. "To add those pieces here to what we have and what we are building is great. "They didn't take any days off and did whatever [was needed] to make us better, and in turn, made each other better. That will help us for this year." Junior point guard Markell Johnson came away impressed over what he observed the past year from the trio of transfers. "They are some dogs who can really play," Johnson said. "They can score, de- fend and do it all. A lot of times on scout team with them going at us, we knew how scary it would be the next year." Bryce improved each year at UNCW, going from 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a freshman to 17.4 points and 5.4 boards per contest in 2016-17. His last game in a Seahawks uniform was against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. He went 2 of 11 from the field for eight points and grabbed three rebounds in a down-to- the-wire 76-71 loss to the Cavaliers. Need- less to say, the loss has provided motivation. "It only feels like last month," Bryce said about the UVA game. "That is my last of- ficial basketball game and it ended on a 'L.' "It left a bad taste in my mouth." Battling Freeman on the scout team while sitting out last year became Bryce's "games." Keatts was impressed with the progress the Charlotte, N.C., native showed while redshirting. "He has become a better three-point shooter here since he's come from Wilm- ington," Keatts said. "He was capable of making shots from behind the arc, but he was more of a pull-up guy. He has changed his body. "I have also challenged him on the defen- sive end. He knows the system." Bryce understands his role of being the "Keatts whisperer" with his new team- mates. His complete knowledge of Keatts' philosophy makes him an easy player to help Dorn and the other veterans as leaders, especially since Bryce doesn't view himself as a newcomer. "The biggest thing C.J. can bring to the program is that he can help the young guys to know what is expected of them every day from me," Keatts said. Bryce wants to make the right plays at the right times this season and score at all Bryce averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game under the guidance of head coach Kevin Keatts at UNC Wilmington in 2016-17. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN