The Wolfpacker

Nov.-Dec. 2020

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2020-2021 MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW BY MATT CARTER C State senior guard Brax- ton Beverly is from the small town of Hazard, Ky. It may not be the stereotypical rural community that boasts just a single stoplight, but it only has a population of around 5,000. Like many children growing up in the basketball-crazy state of Kentucky, Beverly had dreams of being a college hoops star. He can still remember the little basketball hoop in his house. His uncle Heston Beverly played collegiately at Morehead State and was a big inspiration for his nephew. Beverly noted he was into basketball be- fore he could walk. "I have pictures of little me just holding onto a basketball," Beverly added. What differentiates Beverly from others is he never stopped working to reach his dreams, even if it meant separating himself from being the local, hometown hero in Hazard. He made a hard decision to leave his hometown and attend Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., a prep power- house previously coached by NC State head coach Kevin Keatts. When Beverly enrolled, Hargrave's head coach was A.W. Hamilton. There were many in Hazard that ques- tioned Beverly's decision, and he admitted his family was probably not ready for him to leave home. However, Beverly has proven time and again he is willing to bet on himself. "I just felt like that was the place I needed to go in order to maximize my potential, in terms of extending my career to college," Beverly explained. It paid off. He originally landed at Ohio State, but coaching changes in Columbus and Raleigh changed Beverly's fate. He was allowed to leave Ohio State and instead sign with NC State, where Hamilton had been hired as Keatts' assistant coach. There was one hangup, however. Beverly had started taking summer classes at Ohio State. The NCAA originally deemed him a transfer despite the fact that Beverly never played there. Eventually, the NCAA relented and allowed Beverly immediate eligibility, but the drama lasted into the actual season. Now almost four years later, it seems like an eternity ago. Keatts jokes that Beverly has been with the Wolfpack team so long that he's old enough to be the coach's for- mer high school teammate. " When I was a kid, that was one big thing I always wished and hoped that I'd be able to do — have the opportunity on a big stage. Thankfully, it actually came true. " Beverly THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD NC State Senior Guard Braxton Beverly Has Overcome Many Obstacles While Pursuing His Dreams N Beverly's career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.39 ranks fourth in program history. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN

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