NC State Basketball: Analyzing potential rotation for 2020-21 season
By William Cash
Centers
C 1 – Manny Bates
Bates, a redshirt sophomore this year, averaged five points, four rebounds, and 2.9 blocks last season on 65% shooting. Bates, like Funderburk is a very traditional big man who plays with his back to the basket and never steps outside as he didn’t even attempt a three-pointer last season.
He fits perfectly in Keatts’s offense as he is the perfect pick man for the guard. As he is efficient, athletic, and an excellent roll man off the screen. Bates averaged 18 minutes a game last season and I think that will be the same this season.
C 2 – Jaylon Gibson
Gibson. another player from this year’s recruiting class. He was a three-star recruit and originally signed to Wake Forest was the No.15th ranked player in the state of North Carolina last recruiting cycle.
At 6″11, Gibson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds at Grace Christian School in North Carolina. He earned Eastern Plains Independent Conference player of the year honors last season. I don’t expect Gibson to play a lot this season and he could be a redshirt candidate for this season.
C 3 – Ebenezer Dowuona
Dowuona, a three-star recruit last season and the nineteenth ranked player in Georgia, averaged eight points,11 rebounds, and two blocked shots last year for Heritage School while leading them to GISA Class AAA State Championship.
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Dowuona, like Gibson, is another redshirt candidate and I think it will be one of them or both. It will all depend if Keatts’s think that the Wolfpack already have enough depth in the frontcourt.