A Texas court’s Temporary Restraining Order has changed the board again, and 36 more athletes are now eligible to play immediately - including three potential NC State targets. For the Wolfpack, that matters because the frontcourt is still the piece that could define how high this team can climb.
The names on that eligibility list include Andrew Akuchie, Tavion Banks, Hayleigh Breland, Nate Calmese, Derek Carter, Jacob Crews, Alonzo Dodd, Treysen Eaglestaff, Jayden Flaker, Ella Flowers, Bella Fontleroy, Preston Gamster, Dashon Gittens, Malik Gucake, Dallin Hall, Micah Handlogten, Chaze Harris, Kylon Harris, Andrew Holifield, Bradyn Hubbard, Bryce Hubbard, Po’Boigh King, Ven-Allen Lubin, Mekhi Mason, Jaqay Murray, Haakon Maughton, Joshua Omojafo, Noah Otshudi, Ethan Potter, Ny’Ceara Pryor, Nyles Rowser, Brandon Sneh, Darrion Williams, Sheldon Williams, AJ Worrell, and Brielle Wright.
For NC State, the practical takeaway is simple: the only real obstacle now may be money. The backcourt, by all accounts from people who have watched practice, is already meeting - and even surpassing - expectations. The bigger question is whether the Wolfpack can add enough size to raise the team’s ceiling.
Ven Lubin appears to be the name drawing the most buzz. The word is that he is Coach Gainey’s top target, that the two sides have been in regular contact, and that the interest is mutual.
LSU is also believed to be involved, though Lubin is said not to be especially excited about that option. Now that the eligibility issue has been cleared up, more schools could jump in.
Still, Lubin has posted a ‘Do Not Contact’ tag on himself, signaling that he’ll handle any outreach through the people he and his agent choose.
Micah Handlogten is another North Carolina connection in the mix. He played for Rodney Monroe in Huntersville, and NC State has reportedly been in touch with him and his team.
The ask, according to the reporting, is starter money - likely in the seven-figure range. Handlogten has started only two games since breaking his leg in 2024 and has not yet fully returned to the production level he had before the injury, but he has been playing on a very good Florida team.
The expectation is clear: he wants a strong season that helps launch his NBA career.
There is also a sense that the Wolfpack’s interest in adding a second player has cooled. One reason may be that late-cycle recruiting can turn into a financial squeeze, and landing one of these centers could drain the available resources. Another factor is that some of the social media contact talk can be shaped by agents and not always tell the full story.
Even with that uncertainty, the timing is moving fast. The expectation is that there should be action this week, and probably quickly. Both the players and the staffs are looking for resolution, and NC State has a chance to land a major addition in the frontcourt.
In Other News...
NC State Just Got A Huge Ven-Allen Lubin Boost
NC States roster plans got a significant lift with Ven-Allen Lubin when a Texas court stepped in to block immediate enforcement of the NCAAs new age-based five-for-five rule. The Temporary Restraining Order gives Lubin and other athletes protection from being declared ineligible while the issue is being sorted out, and it comes at a key moment as the Wolfpack move toward finalizing his addition for the upcoming season.
For NC State, the practical impact is important because Lubin now has a clearer path to staying on the floor as the team builds out its frontcourt. The broader eligibility fight is still unfolding, including a separate class-action case in Colorado, but the Wolfpack can at least plan with more confidence for now as they work through the last steps of bringing him aboard. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Early Bet On Jamil Robinson Already Looks Smart
NC States June offer to Jamil Robinson looks a lot more foresightful now than it did when it was first extended. The 6-foot-11 power forward in the 2027 class was still unranked and unrated by the major recruiting services at the time, but his stock has climbed since then, with 247Sports and Rivals both moving him up to a 3-star prospect.
Robinson is also set to get a fuller look at the program soon, with an official visit to Raleigh scheduled for September 11 as a committed recruit. For a staff that got in early, the timing only adds to the appeal, because Robinsons rise has already begun to validate the Wolfpacks belief before he even steps on campus for that visit. [Read more 🡒]