Justin Gainey’s first high school recruiting class at NC State is starting to take shape fast. The Wolfpack picked up their first 2027 commitment on Monday from forward Jamil Robinson, then later landed in the top five for four-star wing Markus Kerr.
Robinson, a 6-foot-11 power forward in the 2027 class, gave his pledge to NC State after the program became the first high-major school to offer him in late July. He moved quickly once that opportunity arrived, committing to the Wolfpack less than three weeks later.
The big man plays at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in Georgia and recently finished the tail end of this season with Jet Academy on the Nike EYBL Circuit. His minutes there were limited, but he did make an impact in his last game, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and two steals while also knocking down a three-pointer.
At 205 pounds, Robinson is still very much a work in progress physically. Even so, his size, length and signs of shooting touch make him a clear upside swing for NC State.
Kerr’s recruitment is moving in a different direction, but the Wolfpack are right in the mix. The 6-6 small forward and top-70 prospect in the 2027 class trimmed his list to five schools on Monday, with NC State joining Maryland, Xavier, Tennessee and Baylor.
That part of the story stands out because Kerr does not currently hold an offer from NC State, even though there is plainly mutual interest. He has 23 offers overall.
What makes Kerr so appealing is the complete scoring package. He can stretch the floor when he has space, work in the midrange with craft, and create offense off hop-step pull-ups or spin-fade looks from around 15 feet. He’s also comfortable getting all the way to the rim.
Kerr brings burst and athleticism, but he’s not just a straight-line athlete. He probes, waits for openings and then attacks when the lane appears. He can finish going either direction, absorb contact and thrive in transition.
That profile points to a high-major wing who can slash, score and keep defenses honest from the perimeter. On the other end, his size and athletic tools give him a chance to develop into a strong defender, and at minimum he should be able to hold up while adding value on the glass for his position.
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