The college basketball transfer portal closed Wednesday, leaving players with no option to leave their current schools and immediately play elsewhere.
After reaching the Final Four and before the May 1 deadline, North Carolina State basketball had three players enter the transfer portal: Ernest Ross, Cam Woods, and L.J. Thomas.
As of Wednesday, Louisville transfers Mike James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Bowling Green transfer Marcus Hill and Georgetown transfer Dontrez Stiles were added via the portal. .
The starting trio of DJ Horn, DJ Burns and Casey Morsell has exhausted their eligibility, so Mohamed Diarra plans to pursue his professional opportunities. Head coach Kevin Keatts still has one scholarship left to complete the Wolfpack's roster, which includes returning guards Michael O'Connell and Jaden Taylor.
With the transfer portal closing, here are five thoughts on the current state of NC State basketball's 2024-25 roster and what's next for the Wolfpack.
Michael O'Connell and Jayden Taylor are veterans returning to NC State
NC State lost a leader in its backcourt with Raleigh native DJ Horn running out of eligibility, but the Wolfpack returns its top passer and top perimeter defender from the Final Four team. O'Connell led the team last season with a career-high 130 assists and shot a career-high 37.5 percent from 3-point range. Taylor played a variety of roles, ultimately finishing the season as State's sixth man. He averaged 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from the field. Both players will be key pieces next season.
Ben Middlebrooks, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield are Wolfpack's top options
The Wolfpack lost a talented scorer and elite passer in Barnes, and Diarra, who had a double-double in the postseason, turned pro. These losses put an even greater burden on Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who is transferring and returning big man Ben Middlebrooks, who averaged 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds as a junior. The former Louisville forward averaged 12.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season, serving as NC State's primary scoring option in the post.
Dontrez Stiles has shown versatility from UNC to Georgetown to North Carolina State
Kinston native Dontrez Stiles made some big shots against Baylor as a freshman and helped UNC continue its run to the Final Four, but he didn't play much for the Tar Heels. After transferring to Georgetown, Stiles averaged 12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His athleticism, along with his defensive versatility and rebounding ability, should make him the perfect piece to NC State's puzzle.
Mike James, Marcus Hill, and Paul McNeil are reliable scorers.
With Horn and Morsell no longer on the roster, NC State needed to add depth at guard. Keatts did so along with transfers Mike James and Marcus Hill, as well as freshman Paul McNeil. Hill averaged more than 20 points per game at Bowling Green, James was effective at knockdown shots and getting to the free throw line at Louisville, and McNeil came after a storied career at Richmond High School in Rockingham. He brought a scorer's mentality to Lowry.
Will ECU transfer Ezra Orser choose the Wolfpack?
The departures of Barnes and Diarra will open up several spots in the Wolfpack's frontcourt, and they may come close to closing the gap with East Carolina's Ezra Orser. Kevin Keats went to work early amidst the chaos of the transfer portal and was able to complete the goal by landing a 6-foot-8 forward. Orser averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the Pirates last season.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at:rbaxley@fayobserver.com Or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.