The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1306549
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 ■ 35 2020-2021 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW eter and on the wing, and she's capable of do- ing it. Then some of the young players — it's going to take everybody, though." Big Possibilities For Jada Boyd, Pack Sophomore Jada Boyd only averaged 15.7 minutes per game and didn't start any con- tests last season, but the fact that she earned an All-ACC Freshman team selection with limited time on the court speaks to how effi- cient she was for the Wolfpack in her debut. Boyd proved to be a valuable sixth person off of the bench. She averaged 7.5 points per game, while her 5.1 rebounds per contest were the third-best mark on the team. The 6-2 forward also led the Pack with 32 steals and was second on the team in blocked shots (17) and field goal percentage (54.0). "She's so long and athletic, we got to fig- ure out ways to get her on the court," Moore admitted. "That's what we're trying to make sure happens, get our best players out there." With Cunane, Jones and Brown-Turner re- turning to the starting lineup, sticking to the same roster dynamic as last year would make for a crowded frontcourt rotation. That's why Jones has worked on playing from the wing along with Brown-Turner, which should pro- vide more playing time for Boyd and redshirt freshman Elle Sutphin, a 6-2 five-star talent from Pilot Mountain, N.C., who reclassified from the 2020 recruiting class — where she was ranked No. 39 nationally — to 2019 and went through a whole college season last year while redshirting. To pair Boyd with Cunane in the post, Jones and Brown-Turner could play from the wing to create a lineup with four players at least 6-0 tall that would create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. "I think there's a real good chance of that," Moore said. "That's probably the main reason we're trying to play Jones on the wing some, with losing Ace, losing Grace, both players that could play the wing. Jones gives us some experience there, but it also really does open up some minutes at the four position for Jada Boyd and for Elle Sutphin to get on the court. "Elle can shoot the ball unbelievably well at that spot, so it gives us a little bit of a different look at times if we throw her out there. Jada Boyd, that's the main reason we're sliding Jones over, is to try to get Boyd on the court." A former five-star herself that was ranked fifth nationally among forwards and 34th overall in the 2019 class according to ESPN, Boyd gives the Wolfpack a two-deep of five- star talent at the power forward position. It also took some time for her to adjust to the college level. Nine of Boyd's 12 dou- ble-figure scoring totals came during the conference slate, including two in the three games at the ACC Tournament, which makes Moore believe her second season could end up being a breakout campaign for the Peters- burg, Va., native. "She still has some things to learn," Moore said. "Sometimes when she makes a mistake, she shuts down a little bit. We got to make sure she can play through mistakes and keep that motor running high. "Boyd has a very, very high ceiling. She's so explosive to the rim, to the offen- sive boards. That's what we're trying to tap into." ■ Although sophomore forward Jada Boyd averaged just 15.7 minutes per game last year, she posted all-time top-20 marks for NC State rookies in field goal percentage (eighth, 54.0), rebounds (13th, 158) and blocks (12th, 17) en route to ACC All-Freshman honors. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS