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NC State Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for the Wolfpack

By Cooper Watson

RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 22: Mr. Wuf, mascot of the North Carolina State Wolfpact. performs during a game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at PNC Arena on December 22, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 22: Mr. Wuf, mascot of the North Carolina State Wolfpact. performs during a game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at PNC Arena on December 22, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Jarkel Joiner Mississippi Rebels (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Jarkel Joiner Mississippi Rebels (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

NC State’s projected backcourt starters for 2022-23

G – Jarkel Joiner (S-Sr.)

Joiner transferred to Raleigh from Ole Miss this offseason. It’s worth mentioning that Levi Watkins, who has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Ole Miss, also made the move to NC State this offseason, joining Keatts’ staff in April.

Joiner is a score-first point guard who tends to be a streaky shooter from behind the arc. He averaged 13.2 points in 17 starts last season but only put up 2.3 assists per contest, a number that will need to increase.

Perhaps most importantly, Joiner can defend. He posted an adjusted defensive rating of 100.4 last season according to Torvik, which would have been the best rating on NC State by a comfortable margin.

G – Terquavion Smith (So.)

Smith was one of the most surprising returnees to college basketball this season considering he was almost a consensus projection to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. He came in at No. 10 on our way-too-early mock NBA Draft, making him the top pro prospect returning to college this season.

Smith was asked to do a lot as a freshman last season, averaging 16.3 points per contest on more than 14 field goal attempts per game. As a result of that forced usage, his efficiency numbers weren’t exactly ideal, shooting just 39.8% from the field and 36.9% from three.

His potential and offensive talent are undeniable though. Smith is shifty with the ball in his hands, has an excellent first step, and can score from all three levels. He had 13 games with 20+ points in the regular season, the third most of any player in the ACC.

Smith also showed out in several of the pre-draft scrimmages and workouts that took place in Chicago this year, seemingly solidifying his status as a first-round pick. Still, he decided to return to school to further develop his game and work on filling out his frame.

“Terq” was picked as a preseason First Team All-ACC player and projects as a 20-point-per-game scorer. He’ll be in the running for ACC Player of the Year if NC State can win enough games.

G – Casey Morsell (Sr.)

Morsell transferred to NC State from Virginia last season after a decreased workload with Tony Bennett’s squad in 2020-21. His per-game numbers did increase last year, averaging 24.3 minutes and 7.2 points with NC State compared to 15.0 minutes and 4.4 points as a sophomore with Virginia.

Still, Morsell has room to grow as a player and within Keatts’ system at NC State. Morsell can be a valuable and experienced 3-and-D wing. He shot 35.0% from deep last season on 3.3 attempts per game, two numbers that the coaching staff would like to see an increase in what should be an expanded role for Morsell this season.

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