CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein made his preseason stop at NC State’s practice on his annual Tobacco Road tour, and his read on the Wolfpack didn’t exactly blow up the board.
At the Dail Center, Rothstein came away with a pretty standard early look at what NC State seems to be building for 2026-27. His starting five projection lined up with the names most people already had circled: Preston Edmead, Christian Hammond, Paul McNeil, Ven Allen-Lubin and Kyle Evans.
He also pointed to Kyle Evans and RJ Keene as “key lynpins” for the team. Rothstein singled out Keene as an “Under-The-Radar Glue Guy,” calling the Boise State transfer “Could be a huge piece for NC State as a small ball 4.
Terrific IQ. Good with DHO’s off the high post.
Remember The Name.”
Evans drew extra attention because he was not on the floor for the practice the media watched. He was sitting out with what was described as a small injury, which made it harder to get a live look at how he might fit alongside Lubin up front.
Rothstein also had something to say about Darius Adams, noting that the Maryland transfer is “making a tangible effort to move without the ball on offense. A key piece for NC State. Has to give the Wolfpack consistent pop on offense.”
That’s the kind of detail worth watching, because Adams was functioning mainly as a primary ball handler in the practice session that was observed. He said that’s where he’s being slotted this summer.
That doesn’t rule out work on becoming a scorer away from the ball, but it would mark a big shift from how he played in high school and at Maryland. If the shot is falling the way it was during the practice, maybe there’s something there.
If not, the off-ball scoring piece still feels like a work in progress.
One other thing stood out in Rothstein’s assessment: he noted that three of NC State’s four primary perimeter players - Preston Edmead, Paul McNeil and Christian Hammond - played in the NCAA Tournament last season. Edmead and Hammond can both handle the ball, giving the Wolfpack a backcourt that should at least have some versatility.
That experience angle is clearly part of the sales pitch around this roster. It was also part of last year’s pitch, though, and that team never really played like the “group of winners” people expected.
Rothstein himself was bullish before last season, saying Darrion Williams looked like an All-American candidate, Tre Holloman looked like a steadying force at point guard, and that Paul McNeil was a breakout candidate. He also mentioned Musa Sagnia in that mix.
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Brissett is now the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, Meyers has settled in as a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chubb continues to work as an outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. For NC State, it is the kind of spread that speaks to both longevity and versatility, with alumni contributing at premium positions across the league. And with several former Pack players already established on NFL rosters, the conversation around Doerens program only gets louder when those names keep surfacing in headline moments. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Fans Have A New Chance To Build Real Pack Momentum
The fourth annual NC State Basketball Celebration is set for Oct. 13 in downtown Raleigh, giving Wolfpack supporters another chance to turn early-season interest into something more tangible. Hosted by 1Pack, the evening is built around a VIP reception, dinner and a live auction, with the kind of access and program connection that tends to draw steady interest from a fan base eager to stay plugged in.
Confirmed guests include mens coach Justin Gainey, womens coach Wes Moore, athletics director Boo Corrigan and former players Richard Howell and Casey Morsell, which gives the event added weight beyond a standard fundraiser. Tickets come at different price points, and the goal is the familiar one for this kind of gathering: raise support for NC State student-athletes while keeping the community engaged around both basketball programs. [Read more 🡒]