NC State Basketball: Analyzing Wolfpack 2021 incoming recruiting class

4. Terquavion Smith

247Sports: No. 97 overall, 4-star, No. 24 SG

Terquavion Smith is the definition of determined. Although just the fifth-ranked recruit in the state of North Carolina, he won the Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, leading Farmville Central to their third straight 2A state title on the back of his second state playoff MVP award.

Smith was recruited as a shooting guard, although his skillset likely fits more of a scoring combo guard role—something NC State desperately needs with Devon Daniels’ graduation as well as Braxton Beverly and Shakeel Moore’s exits. He has deep range and the ability to effectively and consistently create his own shot.

To earn significant minutes as a freshman, Smith will likely have to embrace the point guard/combo guard role. Regardless, his potential is evident as someone NC State fans should be thrilled to see develop.

3. Ernest Ross

247Sports: No. 71 overall, 4-star, No. 15 PF

Ross is long, athletic, and mobile—a perfect fit for a frontcourt player in Keatts’ high-pressure defensive system.

Offensively, his game is still developing, although he has shown an ability to face-up in the mid-post and even stretch the court from deep, although not consistently enough at this point to be considered a true threat.

Physically, the ability is evident, although a Division I weight room and training staff will be a welcome friend to that progression.

On paper, Ross is NC State’s highest-rated commit since the controversial and problematic class of 2016—the Dennis Smith class, which also featured Markell Johnson and Omer Yurtseven.

Ross will see most of his minutes at power forward behind Jericole Hellems, although he could also see some minutes at center behind Manny Bates, despite the physical disadvantage that would create.