Almost every team in college basketball has stars, even mid-majors. What separates the great teams from the good teams is depth.
NC State has had its share of stars recently, with players like DJ Burns, DJ Horne, Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith. Yet when it was time for those players to sit on the bench, none of the depth struck fear in opponents.
New head coach Will Wade is changing that in his first year in Raleigh.
The Wolfpack went all around the globe to fill out its bench, finding players to fill key roles when guys like senior forward Darrion Williams and sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr. need a breather.
Matt Able
The Pack’s depth begins with five-star freshman guard Matt Able — the type of player that would have been thrust into a starting role in years past. With Able coming off the bench, NC State now has an elite scorer who can take over games with his 3-point shooting.
“Seeing his growth, seeing everything he’s been through, he’s been killing all summer,” said senior guard Quadir Copeland after NC State defeated NC Central. “Seeing him actually shine in front of my eyes, it was amazing. I shed some tears on the bench today.”
Able’s talent goes beyond scoring. The freshman plays with full effort, as seen by his 4.5 rebounds per game. Rebounding is one of the best measures of effort, showing that Able is capable of contributing when his shot doesn’t fall. Able is also averaging 0.5 steals per game, taking the initiative to disrupt on defense. With effort and desire to be great in all phases of the game, Able is a special player leading the Wolfpack’s bench.
“From the first day I met him his confidence was just at an all-time high for a freshman,” Williams said after NC State beat NC Central. “I’ve been around some talented freshmen the past couple years, but I think he’s up there with anybody in the count and his confidence and the work he puts in is unmatched.”
Musa Sagnia
The Wolfpack went international to find a backup for senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin and found freshman forward Musa Sagnia. With experience in FIBA basketball playing for Spain’s Baxi Manresa, Sagnia brings a physical play style to the paint, making him a force on defense. Sagnia already leads NC State in rebounds and steals, with 6.8 boards and 1.8 steals per game.
Sagnia also elevates the Wolfpack with his relentless work effort. Playing in a different league on a different continent is a major challenge for any player, yet Sagnia embraces the work. Each night, Sagnia looks a little better and more comfortable at the college level. On his current trajectory, Sagnia is on a path to be an impact player this season, especially on defense.
“You can tell he never has a bad day,” Wade said after NC State’s 94-70 win over UAB. “It’s a massive amount of change; he was in Spain two and a half months ago. Look, this is a different game … FIBA’s a lot more physical than our game, so it’s a big time adjustment for him and I think every game he’s gonna continue to get better.”
Jerry Deng
At 6-foot-9, junior forward Jerry Deng is unique as a tall knockdown shooter. With the ability to space the floor, while also helping clean up rebounds on defense, Deng does both the dirty work and makes flashy shots to energize the team. His talent was on full display in the season opener vs NC Central when Deng posted 12 points and five boards.
“I was really proud of Jerry,” Wade said after NC State’s 114-66 win over NC Central. “He really had a good week of practice after South Carolina … He got some really good two-handed traffic rebounds, above the rim rebounds is something we’ve really challenged him on, he obviously made some 3s, got a couple layups against the slip action, so very very pleased with him.”
Alyn Breed
Already familiar with Wade’s system thanks to his time at McNeese State, senior guard Alyn Breed brings much-needed leadership to a team brimming with new pieces. While not flashy, Breed is the glue that holds the operation together.
“He was just smooth and he’s what we needed,” Wade said after NC State’s 110-64 win over UNC-Greensboro. “If everybody knew what he’d been through and everything he’s gone through just to get back to this point to play, just incredible, and I’m proud of him.”
With a deep bench, NC State is elevating its potential to compete with the best teams in the nation. Consistency will be key for the group and getting each role player to effectively help the Wolfpack in the areas each player specializes in. When NC State’s bench players fill each role successfully, the Wolfpack’s ceiling is high enough to compete with anyone in college basketball.
