North Carolina’s offseason got a lift on Friday, and NC State’s took another hit.
While the Tar Heels were getting good news with Cameron Fens set to wear Carolina blue next season, the Wolfpack watched standout playmaker Darrion Williams officially move on. Williams is headed back to Lubbock, returning to Texas Tech after spending two seasons there before his stop in Raleigh.
The transfer was allowed because Williams had already entered the portal earlier this year, so he was not required to stay with NC State next season. Even so, it leaves another dent in a rough stretch for the Wolfpack after a turbulent spring.
Williams’ one year at NC State included a memorable 82-58 win over UNC, where he scored 13 points. That game has been a talking point for Wolfpack fans ever since, but the broader picture has only gotten harsher for the program since then.
The latest news only adds to that. Williams averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this past season, and he previously earned First Team All-Big 12 honors during his first stint with Texas Tech.
NC State’s offseason has already been complicated by Will Wade leaving after just one season, a departure that left the program scrambling. Bringing in alumnus and fan-favorite Justin Gainey helped stabilize things some, but it has not erased the damage from losing Wade the way the Wolfpack did.
Williams’ exit was not exactly a shock, but it still stings. He was a strong candidate to return, yet that path always felt like a long shot. His departure makes him another one-and-done piece in Raleigh, and it keeps the Wolfpack’s rebuild under the spotlight.
The day got even better for Carolina fans because NC State’s rough offseason also included former 5-star signee Matt Able entering the portal and joining North Carolina. Michael Malone was aggressive in pursuing Able, and he even acknowledged the gap between the two programs. There had been some concern that Able might stay in the NBA Draft, but he did not, and the expectations for him next season are high.
Able scored 19 points against Carolina last February in a matchup against Wade’s team, another detail that only sharpens the edge of this move.
For NC State, Gainey and the staff have worked to rebuild the roster and keep things moving, but the aftermath of Wade’s exit keeps producing fresh setbacks. Williams leaving for Texas Tech is just the latest one.
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