NC State pursuing numerous players in Rivals150

NC State is pursuing eight of the top 20 players in the Rivals.com class of 2016, which was updated today.

Topping the list is the dynamic duo of Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian junior point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who held steady at No. 4 overall in the nation, and Pinetown (N.C.) Northside junior center Edrice Adebayo, who slid down two spots to No. 8.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Smith and 6-10, 242-pound Adebayo will be teaming up this offseason with Team Loaded NC, which is coached by Smith's father, Dennis Smith Sr., and will play on the adidas circuit. NC State will be watching the coveted duo in the Dallas area this upcoming weekend as part of the first evaluation period.

The nation's top player, small forward Josh Jackson, is also listing NC State among his top nine schools. The 6-7, 185-pound Jackson is originally from Detroit, but is attending Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif. NCSU coaches will get a chance to watch him play again at an Under Armour tournament this weekend in New Orleans.

NC State has offered all three players, who are ranked between No. 11 and No. 13. Point guard De'Aaron Fox of Katy (Texas) Cypress Lakes, small forward V.J. King of Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI and point guard Kobi Simmons, are all impressive players. Both Fox and Simmons play point guard and bring good size to the position. Fox is 6-3 and 170 pounds and Simmons is 6-5 and 175. The 6-7, 185-pound King grew up in Charlotte, N.C. Fox will be with the Houston Hoops and King with Team Takeover on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit, and Simmons is with Atlanta Celtics on adidas.

NC State offered point guard Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ontario in Canada, and the skilled 6-3, 180-pounder could be making the move to the class of 2015 in the future. For now, he checks in at No. 16 in the class of 2016.

NCSU coach Mark Gottfried is loaded with connections in Alabama, and the Wolfpack have pursued No. 18-ranked Joshua Langford for over a year. The 6-6, 200-pound Madison (Ala.) Academy standout has played with Simmons on the Atlanta Celtics in the past.

One of the fastest risers is the class has become a top Wolfpack priority. Shooting guard Markelle Fultz of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic went from unranked in the past to currently No. 25 in the nation. The 6-4, 180-pounder was offered by NC State this winter, and he'll be playing with D.C. Blue Devils on Under Armour circuit.

A pair of players in the late 20s have unofficially visited NC State. Shooting guard Rawle Alkins of Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King is at No. 27 and small forward Miles Bridges of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep is right behind him at No. 28. The 6-4, 215-pound Alkins plays with the New York Rens on adidas, and the 6-6, 225-pound Bridges is with The Family on Nike EYBL.

Click Here to view this Link.

NC State has been evaluating Jackson, Miss., native Mario Kegler of Jacksonville (Fla.) Arlington Country. The 6-7, 210-pound small forward is ranked No. 33, and he plays with MBA Hoops on adidas.

Big man Tony Bradley of Bartow, Fla., was the revelation of last July after a breakout performance at adidas Unrivaled. The 6-10, 235-pounder is ranked No. 36 and is going to play with Each 1 Teach 1 this offseason in the Nike EYBL. The Wolfpack offered him last July.

Murray isn't the only player in the rankings who is pondering a switch to the class of 2015. Junior small forward Maverick Rowan of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons unofficially visited NC State last January, and the 6-5, 180-pounder is ranked No. 43 overall in the class of 2016. Rowan could be returning to Ohio Basketball Club, which is sponsored by adidas.

Center Trevor Stanback unofficially visited NC State last June, and is ranked No. 52 in the class. The 6-10, 210-pounder from Pasadena (Calif.) Maranatha played in just a few traveling team tournaments last year with adidas-sponsored Pump 'N Run 2015.

Long-time target Curtis Jones was offered by NC State his freshman year. The Richmond, Va., area native jumped up 30 spots to No. 55 after a successful year playing point guard for Huntington (W.Va.) Prep. The 6-4, 175-pounder played with Bridges this past year, and was with Team Loaded Virginia last year.

Another point guard to round out targets in the top 80 is Devearl Ramsey, who earned an NC State offer last September. The 5-11, 180-pounder is ranked No. 58 overall and plays for a loaded Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon. He was with Cali Supreme last year in the Nike EYBL.

Another California native picked up an NC State offer last summer. Santa Monica (Calif.) High center Jayce Johnson, who is 6-10 and 215 pounds, is ranked No. 88. He played with Earl Watson Elite last year.

Raleigh Word of God junior point guard Jalen Harris cracked the Rivals150 for the first time at No. 124. The 6-0, 160-pounder has been evaluated by the Wolfpack since last June, and he will be playing with adidas sponsored Team Wall.

Rounding out the targets is No. 133-ranked DeAndre Hunter of Wynnewood (Pa.) Friends Central School. The 6-7, 180-pounder missed last year due to injury, but returned and will get the chance to showcase his game with Philly Pride on the Under Armour circuit.