ACC: NC State Battles Kentucky for Shaun Kirk

Nearly one month after cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, the sun is still shining on Durham, N.C. The ACC basketball recruiting carousel never stops turning.

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After losing Quinn Cook to gradation, Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, and Justise Winslow to the NBA Draft, Mike Krzyzewski has decided to reload by once again landing the top ranked freshmen class in all of college basketball (according to ESPN).

On Monday they locked in a commitment from the third-ranked recruit in the 2015 class, again according to ESPN, in 6-foot-9 wing Brandon Ingram. The rest of that class includes recently reclassified point guard Derryck Thornton, shooting guard Luke Kennard, center Antonio Vrankovic, and big man Chase Jeter.

Add in Rice transfer Sean Obi and their newcomers for 2015-16 look even better.

One team that missed out on landing Ingram’s services is the NC State Wolfpack. The Pack were one of the first teams to show interest in Ingram at the beginning of his recruitment, but once Duke got heavily involved it was clear that the lifelong Duke fan would be headed for Cameron Indoor Stadium.

After Ingram’s announcement, Mark Gottfried wasted no time in finding a replacement. Quickly after offering Shaun Kirk of Whiteville (N.C.) High School, the 6-foot-7 wing verbally committed to the Wolfpack. Kirk is a freak athlete with a highlight reel that features an array of thunderous dunks.

From the few clips I’ve seen that don’t include only dunks, he also seems to possess a competent jump shot. He is said to be a reliable three-point shooter at the high school level; if that translates to the college game, then he has the potential to develop into an impact player.

He is only a three-star recruit, but after putting on a show at recent tournaments, he has been rising in the eyes of recruiters. Even John Calipari and Kentucky offered the young man a scholarship after he committed to NC State.

The commitment was a breath of fresh air for NC State fans who were in need of good news, any good news. Recent weeks saw leading scorer Trevor Lacey declare for the NBA Draft and power forward Kyle Washington decide to transfer out of the program.

Kirk may not be a superstar, but he has a very high ceiling as a prospect and gives them depth on the wing during a time where they desperately need it.

However, according to Scout.com, Kirk is now seriously considering the offer from Kentucky, confirming the notion that if something bad can happen to NC State it most certainly will. When Calipari comes calling, you have to listen.

His track record of sending players to the NBA is sublime and includes names like John Wall, Derrick Rose, DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Eric Bledsoe, Terrence Jones, Julius Randle, and Anthony Davis, among others. Who wouldn’t want to play for that guy?

If Kirk doesn’t spurn the Wolfpack and head to Kentucky NC State’s depth chart now looks a little something like this.

NC State’s Projected Depth Chart

PG: Cat Barber

SG: Terry Henderson

SF: Caleb Martin/Shaun Kirk

PF: Abdul-Malik Abu/Cody Martin

C: BeeJay Anya/Lennard Freeman

Point guard Cat Barber is the marquee name here. The speed demon averaged 12.1 points and 3.7 assists per game last season and shot 38 percent from three-point range. With Lacey and Ralston Turner gone, Barber becomes the highest scoring returning player and assumes the role of “go-to guy.”

Terry Henderson, a transfer from West Virginia, looks to takeover for Lacey at shooting guard. Henderson scored 11.7 points per game on 37.6 percent shooting from outside during his sophomore season in Morgantown.

Had Lacey stayed in Raleigh, his role would have primarily been that of a three-point specialist, filling the Ralston Turner/Scott Wood mold of the player Mark Gottfried will relentlessly run off of screens to get open looks from three-point range.

With Lacey gone he will likely be asked to be more of an all-around scorer and even occasional point guard if NC State fails to pick up a reliable backup before the end of the recruiting period. No matter where he sees most of his minutes he will be featured prominently for NC State next season. Get to know him, Wolfpack fans.

The last two shooting guards to transfer into the program worked out pretty well, right?

Sophomore Caleb Martin will likely start at small forward, hoping to improve on an up and down freshmen campaign. His twin brother Cody Martin could get minutes all over the court, serving as a backup wing, guard, and even as a much needed stretch-four. His positional versatility is what will get him on the court next season.

Washington leaving sets the big man rotation in stone as some combination of Abdul-Malik Abu, Beejay Anya, and Lennard Freeman with a Martin sprinkled in whenever the Pack elect to play small ball.

Without Lacey and Washington, there is more uncertainty, but still plenty of talent. NC State still has the same high ceiling and a chance to repeat their Sweet Sixteen run of 2015. Their floor just may be a little lower depending on how some of these young players develop.

But, all that changes without Kirk. Without him providing that depth on the perimeter, some players could see their roles change. For example, Cody Martin would then likely be the backup small forward rather than the stretch four Mark Gottfried wants him to be. That means there is more pressure for Anya, Freeman, and Abu to stay out of foul trouble.

There is not much room for error in a seven-man rotation.

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Abdul-Malik Abu (0) celebrates with Wolfpack forward Beejay Anya (21) after scoring in the first half against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Kirk now has a tough decision to make. Do you honor your commitment and stay close to home, or do you decide the bluegrass is greener on the other side and take your talents to Kentucky? In the end he should do whatever he feels is best for his game and his career.

If he thinks he can go in and thrive in the competitive, cutthroat world that is Kentucky basketball, then he should go. If he thinks he needs time to develop and values being close to home, then he should honor his commitment to NC State.

Either way, it is an exciting time for Kirk. It must feel nice to be coveted all across college basketball, especially for a player that had been undervalued most of his high school career. As for Calipari, some may view offering a player just after he commits to another school as shady.

That may be true, but his only duty is to do what is best for the Kentucky basketball program and his players. Everything is fair game when it comes to recruiting.

NC State fans may be furious, but guys, you have been through worse. Deep breaths. You’ll get through this. Recruiting is a nasty business sometimes, but you have to play the game.

Next: Brandon Ingram Chooses Duke

ACC: NC State Battles Kentucky For Shaun Kirk

By Andrew Snyder | Apr 29, 2015

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