NC State Basketball: Projected depth chart, rotation minutes for 2023-24

NC State Basketball: Projected depth chart and rotation minutes for 2023-24 season

WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: D.J. Burns Jr. #30 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack reacts after scoring a basket against the Wake Forest Demon Deaconsduring their game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 28, 2023 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Kansas Jayhawks guard MJ Rice William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports /

Power forward/fourth guard

Projected starter: MJ Rice (25 mpg)

Reserves: Ben Middlebrooks (10 mpg), Dennis Parker (5 mpg)

With so many guards, where will Rice ultimately play? After Miranda departed the roster, the four-spot became fairly open. He’s the biggest among all of the perimeter players, listed at 6’5 and 220 pounds. He’s a former five-spot prospect that was limited to 23 games as a freshman this past season.

Rice was playing behind guys such as Kevin McCullar, Gradey Dick, and Jalen Wilson and he dealt with a back issue reportedly early in the season. So there’s a strong case that he could be a breakout candidate at the right spot. He’s someone that can shoot and spread the floor but there’s plenty of competition among all of the newcomers.

One of them is Middlebrooks, who averaged 3.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg as a 6’10 forward from Clemson. He averaged around 11 mpg last season and started seven games when PJ Hall was coming back from injury. Middlebrooks is a solid role player that can defend but the concern is how he fits with Burns inside since neither can spread the floor. Both the bigs at Clemson could so it’ll be a different situation for the new big.

Another incoming freshman to watch is the other Parker, a 6’8 combo forward. If there’s a spot for the four-star prospect to play it’s at the four and if Middlebrooks/Burns isn’t a good fit, there’s an opportunity for him.

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