10/6/2017 basketball Edit

Ian Steere excited to join Wolfpack

Jacey Zembal • TheWolfpackCentral

Writer

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Rivals.com ranks new NC State senior center verbal commit Ian Steere No. 104 overall in the class of 2018 by Rivals.com.

NC State has been clamoring for post players and now has landed two with built-in chemistry with each other.

NCSU landed senior center Ian Steere of Fayetteville (N.C.) Northwood Temple Academy on Friday. He joins prep teammate Immanuel Bates, who announced for the Wolfpack on Sept. 15.

The Rivals.com No. 104-ranked Steere has gone through a whirlwind recruitment in recent weeks. The 6-foot-9, 250-pounder from Sanford, N.C., had verbally committed to Creighton on July 6, but elected to decommit Sept. 22 due to wanting to be closer to home. NC State moved in fast and had the built-in relationship from previously recruiting him, plus recent trips to Northwood Temple in going after Bates.

Steere officially visited NC State last weekend and followed up with an unofficial visit last Thursday for the Louisville football game. He announced for the Wolfpack the next morning.

“NC State fans are very, very loyal, and they love their basketball team,” said Steere in a previous interview.

The path to staying home for college has been filled with twists and turns the last three years, besides the Creighton scenario. Steere began his prep career at Spring Lake (N.C.) Overhills High, but left the state to attend Martinsville (Va.) Carlisle School as a sophomore. He transferred to High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan for his junior year, but decided to finish up at Northwood Temple.

NC State’s new coaching staff watched Steere play with Team Charlotte during the April evaluation period, but didn’t start the recruiting process until late May. He unofficially visited for a few hours May 31, and then followed up by attending team camp in late June, with an offer arriving July 2. However, he committed to Creighton four days later.

Steere was one of the big winners of the April evaluation period. He earned offers from NC State, Clemson, Connecticut, Florida State, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Saint Joseph’s and Texas Tech, all after April.

Steere’s offers prior to April 21 were Charlotte, Creighton, Hampton, High Point, Houston Baptist, Mount St. Mary’s, North Florida and Tennessee.

Steere averaged 8.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and shot 53 percent from the field and 47 percent at the free-throw line in 16 Under Armour Associaiton games for Team Charlotte.

NC State has two remaining scholarships available for the class of 2018. Steere and Bates join wing transfers Devon Daniels (Utah) and C.J. Bryce (North Carolina Wilmington), who are sitting out this upcoming college season per NCAA rules.

NC State has also hosted senior wing Keldon Johnson of Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy and senior forwards Saddiq Bey of Washington (D.C.) Sidwell Friends and Jericole Hellems of St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade on official visits.