Quadir Copeland Delivers a Masterclass in Playmaking for NC State
Every now and then, a performance comes along that doesn’t just fill up the box score-it rewrites the way we talk about a player. That’s exactly what Quadir Copeland did in NC State’s recent win over SMU, dishing out 16 assists with zero turnovers, all while grabbing a double-digit rebound total to complete the double-double. It was the kind of night that makes coaches shake their heads in disbelief-and opposing teams rethink their scouting reports.
After the game, NC State head coach Will Wade put it plainly: “I don’t wanna be, like, hyperbole,” he said, “but I can’t tell if I’ve ever had [a player] with 16 assists, no turnovers, and a double-double with rebounds.” And he’s coached a few talented guards in his day.
Wade joked that maybe if the Southland Conference had bigger crowds last season, Copeland would’ve pulled off something like this sooner. But clearly, the bright lights and energy of a road game bring out something special in the junior guard.
Copeland wasn’t just facilitating-he was orchestrating. His 16 assists directly led to 44 points, meaning he had a hand in over half of NC State’s total scoring output.
And he did it without a single turnover. That’s not just efficiency; that’s surgical execution.
To put it in historical context, Copeland’s 16 dimes tie him for fourth-most in a single game in NC State history, joining an elite group that includes program legends like Chris Corchiani, Spud Webb, Sidney Lowe, and Dennis Smith Jr. Only Corchiani has ever dished out more in a game for the Wolfpack, with a school-record 20 against Maryland back in 1991.
But what made Copeland’s performance even more impressive was how he managed the game with three fouls early in the second half. Many players in that situation would’ve been yanked or played tentatively.
Not Copeland. Wade trusted him to stay on the floor-and Copeland rewarded that trust by playing smart, foul-free basketball the rest of the way.
“We are a different team when he’s not on the court,” Wade said. “We know that.
You know that. The other team knows that.
Everybody knows that.”
That’s high praise, and it’s earned. Copeland’s fingerprints were all over this win-not just in the numbers, but in the rhythm and flow of the offense. He controlled the tempo, found teammates in the right spots, and made the kind of reads that don’t show up in the stat sheet but win you games.
This wasn’t just a big night. It was a statement. Copeland is evolving from a talented playmaker into a true floor general-one with the poise, vision, and presence to take over games without needing to take over the scoring column.
And if he keeps playing like this, his name won’t just be in the NC State record books-it’ll be etched into the program’s legacy.