NC State men's basketball grabs top 10 transfer, Wolfpack roster nearly complete
Darrion Williams, the No. 6 player in the transfer portal per 247Sports and On3, committed to the Wolfpack on Thursday night.
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Williams joins the N.C. State program after spending one season at Nevada and two at Texas Tech, primarily playing at power forward.
'Thank you Tech for everything!' Williams wrote in a tweet. 'I wouldn't trade these last two years for anything. Lubbock is a second home to me and will always have a special place in my heart.'
During his junior season with the Red Raiders, Williams averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He recorded a 23% assist rate.
Williams shot 34% from 3-point range last season, taking a step back from his 46% 3-point rate as a sophomore. Williams made roughly 44% of his shots from the field. Though his averages dipped this past season, Williams has made clutch shots in big moments. Arguably his most important shot was a go-ahead layup in Texas Tech's overtime win over Arkansas to advance to the Elite Eight.
N.C. State's Casey Morsell drives to the basket past Texas Tech's Darrion Williams during the first half of the Wolfpack's first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Sacramento native — he attended high school in Las Vegaas — earned First Team All-Big 12 honors this past season and Third Team honors a year prior.
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Williams was on the Red Raiders team that fell to N.C. State in 2024 during the Wolfpack's miracle run to the Final Four. He recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the loss.
Photos: NC State defeats Texas Tech in first round NCAA Tournament action
Williams went through the NBA Draft evaluation process, but opted to return to school after struggling in the combine. He withdrew earlier this week. Williams tied for first place in the 3-point contest, but had little impact in the two scrimmages.
He previously told CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter that he was focused on the combine and didn't take calls from coaches. However, Williams also said he was open to returning to school if that was the best decision for himself.
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'I'm open to it, but I wanted to be full in on the draft,' Williams said. 'I didn't want to be one foot in one foot out. If I have to go back, I'll go back, [but] I want to go through the draft [process]. It's my first time doing this.'
First-year head coach Will Wade told the News & Observer last week he hoped to complete the roster by the beginning of June. With Williams' commitment, the Pack has 11 scholarship players. It currently can offer 13 full scholarships. If the House vs. NCAA settlement is approved, however, Division I teams can award a combination of full or partial scholarships to up to 15 players.
The Wolfpack ranks No. 12 in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, adding one five-star and five four-star recruits. N.C. State lands at No. 15 in the nation for overall recruiting rankings, picking up two five-star players and six four-stars.
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