NC State well-versed on Keith Hornsby's range
NC State is quite familiar with LSU shooting guard Keith Hornsby, who is the son of famous musician Bruce Hornsby.
The last time coach Mark Gottfried and the Wolfpack faced Hornsby, he was on his way to going 4 of 6 from three-point land en route for 23 points. The big difference was Hornsby was then playing for North Carolina-Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach, a former NCSU player and coach. NC State topped UNCA 82-80 thanks to center Richard Howell's 23 points and 15 boards, and 18 points from point guard Lorenzo Brown on Nov. 23, 2012.
Biedenbach resigned after the season and Hornsby elected to transfer. NC State emerged as one strong possibly, but the Wolfpack landed Alabama combo guard transfer Trevor Lacey. Hornsby subsequently picked LSU over Saint Mary's, and now gets another chance to play NC State at approximately 9:10 p.m. Thursday in the NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa.
"He played awfully well against us for UNC-Asheville," NC State coach Mark Gottfried said. "He even considered coming here when he made the decision to transfer here. I was happy to see him go to LSU because of coach Johnny Jones, a good friend of mine (and former assistant coach at Alabama)."
The 6-4, 210-pound Hornsby sat out last year, but the Williamsburg, Va., native has proven this season that his game translates well to a power conference program. Hornsby averaged 15.0 points and 42. rebounds per game and shot 37.9 percent from three point land at UNCA in 2012-2013. He has improved to 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, and checks in at 13.6 points and 4.2 rebounds a contest for the Tigers (22-10) this season.
Hornsby ended the season with 15 straight games of reaching at least 10 points, and has reached at least 23 points in four contest this season.
"He has had a great run and is playing at a high level right now," Gottfried said. "His last couple of games have been his best of the year. We know him a little bit and know his game. He's a great shooter and great athlete."
Hornsby's outside shooting has complemented the inside duo of sophomore post players Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey. the listed 6-10, 236-pound Martin is averaging 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds, while shooting 51.0 percent from the field. Mickey is right behind him at 15.5 points, plus 9.8 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per contest, and is shooting 51.1 percent from the field.
The 6-8, 235-pound Mickey missed the win at Arkansas with a bruised shoulder after taking a fall the previous game against Tennessee, but then logged 16 minutes before fouling out in the 73-70 overtime loss vs. Auburn in the SEC Tournament.
"Martin and Mickey inside, two highly recruited and talented guys," Gottfried said. "We'll have our hands full with those two. Those two are two of the most athletic forwards we've played all year."
Martin has 14 double-doubles this season, including a season-high 28 points, plus 13 boards in a 70-63 win over Florida on Feb. 21. Mickey has 15 double-doubles, and went for 25 points and 20 rebounds in the 73-67 loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 31.
"I haven't decided all that yet," said Gottfried on which NCSU post player will guard Martin or Mickey. "I've watched a half of their last game and over tonight and tomorrow morning, we'll all watch three, four, five of their games. Then we'll make some decisions."
LSU and NC State have also been invited to the Legend's Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. next season.