NC State men’s basketball has the talent and coaching to have a special season. However, even the best teams in college basketball need things to break their way.
While the stars and key pieces are set for the Wolfpack, questions abound about how well the complementary pieces will mesh from a collection of talented players into a winning basketball team. Here are the three questions NC State must address to meet its high expectations.
Can Paul McNeil be a star?
The Wolfpack’s sophomore guard was regarded highly before arriving at NC State, setting the North Carolina high school basketball single-game scoring record with 71 points. After an inconsistent first season, McNeil is a much-improved player by all accounts.
“We’re pretty confident [in McNeil],” said head coach Will Wade following NC State’s 88-86 exhibition win over South Carolina. “He’s probably the best tough shot maker that we have … Very proud of him, very pleased with him. He’s grown a lot since last year.”
Fans got a taste of how talented McNeil is after swishing a game-winning three in the Pack’s exhibition win over South Carolina. With the clock winding down and zero room to breathe, McNeil stepped back, faded away and released a high-arcing shot for the win. Both the talent and the confidence are impressive from McNeil.
PAUL MCNEIL JR GAME WINNER!!! pic.twitter.com/wZD3VzAErY
— NC State Men’s Basketball (@PackMensBball) October 26, 2025
Moving forward, NC State could use a co-star next to senior forward Darrion Williams. A grizzled college basketball veteran, Williams’ combination of playmaking and craft scoring makes him an excellent centerpiece. However, teams will almost certainly key in on Williams during the season.
Having a star that Williams can kick passes out to on the perimeter would unlock another level for the Wolfpack offense. Much like Kyrie Irving used to shift defenses away from LeBron James when the duo played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, McNeil will have to draw defenders’ attention from Williams to unlock the best version of NC State’s offense.
How effective is NC State’s center depth?
The Wolfpack has a clear star in senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin, who will play most of the Pack’s minutes at the five. However, the center position is physically demanding, meaning a backup big that can spell Lubin for stretches is critical.
Right now, the Wolfpack has two main options to backup Lubin: freshman forward Musa Sagnia and senior center Scottie Ebube.
In NC State’s win over South Carolina, Sagnia was given the opportunity to sub in for Lubin, playing 11 minutes. While his stats don’t jump off the page, Sagnia’s presence was clear, bringing energy and effort to the Wolfpack’s interior defense and deterring the Gamecocks’ offense from attacking the paint.
“He’s always happy, always smiling, it’s never a bad day for Musa,” said senior guard Quadir Copeland. “We need that person on our team, because everybody has moments, everybody goes through stuff, but Musa lights your day up every time.”
Thanks to his professional experience in Spain, Sagnia is the frontrunner to be the backup five. However, Ebube offers NC State something it lacks elsewhere on the roster — a massive physical presence. At 6-foot-10 and 280 pounds, Ebube will be impossible to back down and a force when going for rebounds.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Wade selectively use Sagnia and Ebube based on matchups. Regardless of who sees more playing time, the Pack will need strong effort and smart basketball from both to avoid ending up on the wrong side of runs when Lubin is subbed out.
How well can NC State shoot from deep?
One of the biggest differentiators between good teams and great teams is their ability to shoot. The Wolfpack added several capable shooters, but none who stand out as sharpshooters. McNeil is a building block for the Pack’s shooting threat, but more players will have to step up.
A potential breakout shooter is senior guard Tre Holloman. While Holloman only shot 32.9% from 3 last season, the Michigan State transfer has shown glimpses of being a talented shooter. As a sophomore, Holloman was money from deep, hitting over 42.5% of his threes. That ability flashed again when he went 2-2 from behind the arc against the Gamecocks.
Another option to be a knockdown shooter for NC State is freshman guard Matt Able. A five-star according to 247Sports composite rankings, Able is one of the most exciting additions for the Wolfpack this season after making a living off of his ability to shoot in high school. Now at the collegiate level, Able has the potential to be an impact shooter for NC State, especially valuable during stretches when McNeil is on the bench.
“Matt, that kid is special,” Copeland said. “Y’all gonna see a lot from that kid, he’s got a lot in his tank for sure. He’s a great player, especially at his young age. He’s always curious, he’s always asking questions, he always wants to get better, he’s working in the gym 100%.”
With collective improvement in shooting, NC State’s offensive ceiling can drastically improve. Right now, the Pack already can score inside, draw fouls and bury midrange jumpers with the best of the best. Stretching the floor will only make it easier for NC State to utilize its bread and butter by forcing defenses to spread out from the paint and respect the threat of the three-point shot.
