Jalen Lecque, a five-star point guard in the 2019 recruiting class, signed his National Letter of Intent with NC State men’s basketball Wednesday, the team announced.

Because Lecque is taking a fifth year of high school at Brewster Academy this year, he would have been eligible for the 2019 NBA draft, and there has been speculation he would go that route. Signing his NLI means one of the most talented incoming freshmen in the country is firmly committed to the Wolfpack should he go to college.

“Jalen is the most explosive player in the 2019 class and has become one of the premier playmakers in the country,” head coach Kevin Keatts said in an official statement from NC State Athletics. “He’s a dynamic point guard who is great at getting into the lane and finishing at the rim or creating offense for his teammates. Jalen fits the mold of everything we are looking for in a guard in our system and has the potential to become a lockdown defender. Jalen checks off all the boxes we look for in terms of recruiting a total student-athlete. He will be a great asset to not only our program, but to the entire NC State community. We look forward to welcoming Jalen and his family to Wolfpack Nation.”

The No. 22 recruit in the 2019 class on ESPN’s top 100 list averaged 20.1 points, 9.3 assists and 9.1 rebounds per game as a junior with Christ School in Arden, NC last season.

If he foregoes the NBA, Lecque should give Keatts a plethora of options at the point guard position for the 2019-20 season along with Markell Johnson, Braxton Beverly and Blake Harris, all of whom have at least a year of eligibility remaining.