Six Thoughts On A Thursday
Here are some thoughts and observations on hoops commitment Alyn Breed, NC State baseball, the WNBA draft, transfer portal recruiting, and much more!
Alyn Breed Makes A Lot Of Sense
No one should be surprised that Alyn Breed is Will Wade's first commitment as head coach at NC State.
Typically, when you have a coach come in from another program, and with the transfer portal being so accessible now, a coach will bring at least one player with him. Everything I've heard about Alyn Breed indicates that Will Wade is extremely high on him as a prospect.
There was an article I read last night where one of the players on last year’s McNeese roster stated that when Breed enrolled mid-year and started working out with the team, he was the best player in practices. McNeese clearly had lofty expectations for Breed going into this season, and in two games he looked outstanding, which included a strong performance at Alabama.
I've heard he's fully healthy and could have returned late in the season, but at that point it was too late to really bring him back. So I don't believe the knee injury is a concern for NC State, and I'm not sure State's coaching staff would've taken him if it were the case.
I expect Breed to come in and play a major role for NC State, and the great thing is he was likely very affordable from a NIL/revenue share perspective which should open up the door for the Pack to be even more aggressive while pursuing other options.
Diouf The Latest To Move On
I've been hesitant to lock in Ishmael Diouf on next year’s roster, and here we are, he’s now in the transfer portal looking for a new home.
A Canadian transfer, when you watched his tape there was a lot there to like, but the question for foreign players often is how quickly can they adjust to the college game in the United States? And while his skill level gave him a chance, it did feel at times like the game was moving just a little too fast for Diouf.
I still would've loved to see him on NC State's roster. Everything I've heard about him off the court was exemplary. He was a low-maintenance player who was all about the team, and I don't believe from a NIL perspective he would have been expensive.
I do think State left the door open for him to return. However, guys want to play, and with one year of eligibility remaining, I don't blame Diouf at all for looking for a place where he can get on the court likely more than he would have this upcoming season at NC State.
The Metrics Stick Out On Tyler Harris
Washington guard Tyler Harris was on campus just before the dead period, and his profile is an example of the analytical approach NC State could be trying to use to build this roster.
At 6-foot-8, Harris has great positional size. He's a versatile defender who can defend multiple spots and is a plus shot-blocker for his position, which makes sense given his length.
What really stands out, though, is his shooting ability. He hit right at 50% of his shots from the field and was 49% from three-point range on three attempts per game.
Check out this shot chart:
That’s a lot either in the paint or from three-point range. Ultimately, I could see him playing the three or four at NC State with his size, and he should be ideal as a floor-spacer around playmakers.
THE Glaring Need Out Of The Portal
NC State has almost a full roster to fill so there are plenty of needs, but if I had to narrow it down to one specific need, NC State has to land frontcourt talent.
As of now, true freshman Mikey Wilkins is the only projected frontcourt player on the roster, and that’s not going to get it done. What I’m interested to see is the type of center Will Wade will target. What is he looking for?
Does he want length... a rebounding shot-blocker who could also be a rim-runner and vertical threat? What about an offensively skilled post who he can use to initiate offense?
It’s all about roster construction, and based on what I’ve seen from Alyn Breed, I’d expect State to target a rim-running post who can be used in ball-screen situations.
Regardless, the Pack will be looking to add multiple bigs out of the portal.
Who Will Be The Better WNBA Pro?
The WNBA draft is this month and we know the Pack has a trio of players hoping to get drafted in Madison Hayes, Saniya Rivers, and Aziaha James.
The question above is tricky, but where I go to is who can do what the best?
When I view those three players, what stands out the most is the defensive versatility and upside of Saniya Rivers. She is an outstanding on-ball defender, but Rivers can also switch and defend bigger players. She even provides rim protection as a guard and her rebounding ability allows her to initiate fastbreak opportunities as well as anyone.
Those traits right away can get her on the court at the next level. Now, she needs to get stronger and still needs to develop her offensive game, but defensively, she’s a plus.
It’s hard to make it on the WNBA level, and you really need a defining trait to give yourself the best chance to have success at that level. I'm going to go with Saniya Rivers because of the defense, but with that being said, all three have a legitimate chance at carving out a career in the WNBA.
Things Are Clicking At The Plate
NC State returns to action at home this weekend against Virginia, and what we've seen from the Pack at the plate recently has been encouraging.
My hope is it continues in this series because Virginia has quality pitching, so it will be a true test to see the Pack can sustain the recent spike in power.
Multiple guys are starting to crank out those extra base hits needed to really elevate an offense and take it to the next level. So my eyes this weekend, it's going to be on the hitting... can State have a strong series at the plate?