Weekly College Basketball Recruiting Beat (10-2-11) – No Longer Nervous at NC State

No Longer Nervous at NC State

The off-season hiring of Mark Gottfried brought mixed reactions in Raleigh. But almost immediately, the NC State coaching staff began to knock on doors in the Triangle region, targeting players that some of their local rivals, Duke and North Carolina, and national powerhouses were also targeting. Though the Wolfpack held onto a pledge that point guard Tyler Lewis made to the previous staff, it had yet to make a big splash on the recruiting trail. Talented shooting guard Torian Graham was committed for a brief time — a false start to the Wolfpack’s hopes.

That all changed on Friday, when local star Rodney Purvis, a 6′-3″ guard from Upper Room Christian (NC), announced his intentions to attend NC State at a press conference. The former Louisville pledge is the type of talent that will attract regional fan attention to the program, in short order. He’s a bonafide star that will likely start every game of his NC State career, and be an explosive scorer.

The addition of Purvis to the roster is just the first domino that needs to fall in awakening the NC State program, but it’s an explosive and eye catching start. They are in on a variety of Top 100 prospects that would bring an immediate talent infusion to the roster, which gives fans further hope.

After landing Rodney Purvis, who will NC State snag next in the 2012 class? Answer with your prediction at the Hoopniks facebook page!

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Quick Notes

Texas A&M made headlines when 6′-2″ combo guard Kendrick Nunn committed on an unofficial visit. The Simeon (IL) standout is one of the best guard prospects in the 2013 class, and was expected to be heavily recruited prior to make the call early to join the Aggies. Apparently the pledge was made a little too early, as Nunn reported that his recruitment is back open. He immediately heard from more than a dozen high-major programs that are getting back in on his recruitment.
Though he’s considered a Top 5 prospect in the 2013 class, 6′-10″ center Nerlens Noel of Tilton School (NH) still remains the subject of constant rumors that he will be reclassify back to the 2012 class, and enter college early. The impressive defender has been relatively close-lipped about his recruitment, but he’s talented enough to play only a short time in college, as his defensive skills are considered elite. The Noel situation appears to be worth watching closely. Last year, two prospects made the move that Noel is said to be contemplating, Khem Birch, who ended up at Pittsburgh, and Alex Murphy, who’s at Duke.
After re-opening his recruitment following failing to qualify at St. John’s, many high-majors have flocked to check out Jakarr Sampson. The 6′-7″ forward is already back on the visit circuit, as he went to Baylor officially this weekend, according to a twitter message from his head coach at his prep school. Sampson has enough talent to play heavy minutes wherever he ends up, and could be a freshman starter for programs in need of a “3″ man. The Bears also recently hosted Canadian small forward Dyshawn Pierre on campus.
Kansas State hasn’t been heavily publicized on the recruiting trail as of late, and may be making moves on the down low. ZagsBlog reports that the Wildcats have “stashed” two players at South Kent (CT) for prep school. Apparently, Zedric Saddler, a guard, and Laimonas Chatkevicius, a center, are at the talented school so Kansas State can track their progress.
Duquesne landed a second prospect in a week’s time, with Willie Moore, a 6′-3″ guard from Aiken (OH) making the call over the weekend. He was said to be considering Cleveland State, Dayton, and Wichita State in earlier reports.
Missouri State landed the top post player from the Kansas City Pump N Run for the second straight season. Last year, Christian Kirk joined the team, and now the Bears took a commitment from 6′-7″ Gavin Thurman of Wichita Heights (KS). Thurman is a good shooting inside-outside big that will be solid at Missouri State, especially in concert with Kirk.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution updated the recruitment of 6′-9″ center Tony Parker of Miller Grove (GA). Apparently, Duke, Ohio State and UCLA are the only schools expected at this time to get official trips from the talented big man, who has already unofficially visited Georgia Tech and Georgia.

Commitment Tracker

Deion Clark, 2012, 6′-3″, G, Old Dominion
Caris Levert, 2012, 6′-4″, G, Ohio
Tony Hicks, 2012, 6′-2″, G, Pennsylvania
Zeldric King, 2012, 6′-6″, F, Tulsa
Antione Burrell, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Hartford
Kevin Chuisseu, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Furman
Kyndahl Hall, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Weber State
Tony Sabato, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Elon
Cory Arentsen, 2012, 6′-5″, F, Austin Peay
Torrion Burmmitt, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Western Carolina
Ramon Johnson, 2012, 6′-9″, C, North Carolina Central
Yaya Anderson, 2012, 6′-2″, G, Radford
Mareik Isom, 2012, 6′-6″, F, Arkansas-Little Rock
Khalen Cumberlander, 2012, 6′-3″, G, Central Connecticut State
Mitch Brewe, 2012, 6′-8″, F, UCSB
Darian Nelson-Henry, 2012, 6′-9″, C, Pennsylvania
Jeffrey Moss, 2012, 6′-3″, G, Murray State
Mading Thok, 2012, 6′-11″, C, Ball State
Dexter Werner, 2012, 6′-6″, F, North Dakota State
Nate Kratch, 2012, 6′-6″, F, Santa Clara
Jay Johnson, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Tennessee Tech
Denzel Douglas, JC, 5′-11″, G, Idaho
Kendall Knorr, 2012, 6′-1″, G, Navy
Jerome Hairston, 2012, 6′-1″, G, Towson
Juan Coronado, JC, 6′-7″, F, Liberty
Dalante Dunklin, 2012, 6′-0″, G, UCSB
Tyler Flack, 2012, 6′-6″, F, South Dakota
John Gillon, 2012, 5′-8″, G, Arkansas-Little Rock
Cleveland “Pancacke” Thomas, 2012, 6′-4″, G, Louisiana-Lafayette
Kameron Mitchell, 2012, 6′-2′, G, Wagner
Julian Harrell, 2012, 6′-4″, G, Pennsylvania
CJ Ford, 2012, 6′-1″, G, Murray State
Jalen Love, 2012, 6′-0″, G, Denver
Will Rassman, 2012, 6′-7″, F, Loyola (MD)
Richard Carter, JC, 6′-0″, G, Drake
Dorian Albritton, 2012, 6′-0″, G, VMI

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