St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade Prep senior power forward Jericole Hellems came away impressed with his first viewing of NC State.
Hellems was joined by his parents for the first of potentially five official visits. They were in Raleigh from last Friday through Sunday. The 6-foot-7, 200-pounder was one of the breakout stars at the Nike Peach Jam on July 12-16 in North Augusta, S.C., while playing with Brad Beal Elite traveling team.
Hellems had averaged 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during 16 regular season games in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. He shot 38.1 percent form the field and 26.9 percent on three-pointers (7 of 26). Hellems erupted for 22.4 points and seven rebounds per game, and shot 56.7 percent from the field and 50 percent on three-pointers (16 of 32), in seven contests at the Nike Peach Jam.
NC State head coach Kevin Keatts offered him following the Peach Jam, and the Wolfpack made his top seven along with Arkansas, Florida, Georgia Tech, Missouri, South Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Hellems, a Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 5 All-State pick as a junior, ,noticed NC State coaches at his games throughout the rest of July.
“They are very interested in me and are making me a priority,” Hellems said. “They want me as a stretch four kind of player and help them do a little bit of everything.”
NC State pushed hard to get the first visit, and he feels that he got every question answered.
“Coach told me he didn’t really want to wait for a football game because he didn’t think that was important,” Hellems said. “He said I was a priority, so he wanted me to come down first. It was still a hectic weekend.”
Hellems enjoyed seeing the campus and facilities, and spent time with NC State wings Devon Daniels and Torin Dorn and point guard Markell Johnson, among others.
“Everything is open right now, but it was fun and they did give me some insight,” Hellems said. “The players said Coach Keatts is a good coach and a man of his word. It always means a lot to hear from players because they are the ones going through it.”
The chemistry of the Wolfpack coaching staff also impressed Hellems.
“The coaches are close ,and they joke and talk with each other, but in a good way,” Hellems said.
Hellems was able to compare Raleigh to St. Louis after his visit.
“It was very different,” Hellems said. “Raleigh is a little bit more open with more people hanging out together. I liked the spirit down there.”
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