Categories: Events/What's HappeningNewsSports

NC State Expands Recruitment Efforts for Football and Basketball

Young athletes engage in training, highlighting the active recruitment efforts of NC State.

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News Summary

NC State’s basketball and football programs are ramping up their recruitment activities, with junior prospect Josh Leonard receiving a scholarship offer from new head coach Will Wade. Meanwhile, the football program is hosting several potential recruits this weekend as they prepare for the Shrine Bowl, which faces player opt-outs due to college commitments. Injuries are also impacting the Shrine Bowl roster as teams adapt to the ongoing changes, highlighting a busy recruitment season for South Carolina’s top talents.

Raleigh, North Carolina — The NC State basketball and football programs are intensifying their recruiting efforts as preparations for the Shrine Bowl continue. In an active recruiting season, junior small forward Josh Leonard from Florence, South Carolina, received a scholarship offer from NC State on June 2, making him the first class of 2027 prospect to receive an offer from new head coach Will Wade.

Leonard is a member of the Upwards Stars 17s traveling team, which is sponsored by adidas and previously recruited by Wade during his tenure at Louisiana State University (LSU). Notably, Wade landed a commitment from Julian Phillips, who later played for Tennessee after Wade’s departure from LSU.

In other recruiting news, NC State is focusing on football prospects with June being a particularly vital month for their recruitment efforts. The program will host several players this weekend, including Xavier Stinson, a senior wide receiver from Vero Beach, Florida; Markel Aguirre, a senior safety from Locust Grove, Georgia; and Alex Willis, a senior defensive end from Orlando, Florida. Among these recruits, Dylan McCoy, a rising senior running back from Buford, Georgia, has been identified as a long-term target for NC State’s football program.

Meanwhile, the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas has commenced its practice sessions at Spartanburg High School, although the South Carolina squad finds itself significantly undermanned. A total of eight key players have opted out of the game, primarily to join their college teams in preparation for bowl practices. Notable opt-outs include Cutter Woods, Jayden Sellers, Malik Clark, and Amare Adams, with additional opt-outs from NC State signees Will Wilson and Cam Strong.

This week, the University of South Carolina (USC) initiated its bowl practice for the upcoming Cheez-it Citrus Bowl, scheduled for December 31 in Orlando. Players who meet high school graduation requirements can participate in practices with their college teams but are ineligible for bowl games. This has created significant roster changes for the Shrine Bowl, leading to the need for replacements, especially from the Myrtle Beach game.

In addition to the opt-outs, injuries have also affected the Shrine Bowl roster. Josh Smith, a defender from Dutch Fork and a USC signee, and Marquise Henderson, a Clemson signee, will not participate due to injuries. However, players like Demarcus Leach and Shed Surratt opted to take part in the Shrine Bowl for a final high school football experience despite initially considering opting out.

The head coach of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team, Reggie Kennedy, expressed disappointment regarding the number of players opting out but acknowledged that players must prioritize their future opportunities. As a standard practice, the Shrine Bowl organization typically avoids pulling players from the Myrtle Beach game unless necessary, particularly due to injury concerns.

There are ongoing discussions about potentially organizing both the Shrine Bowl and the Touchstone Energy Bowl for the same weekend and location in the future. Furthermore, amendments to rules are being considered to improve player availability for the Shrine Bowl next year. The current football season’s end for high schools in both Carolinas was delayed because of Hurricane Helene, which caused disruptions.

The National Signing Day for 2024 is on the horizon, showcasing South Carolina’s leading football talents committing to various colleges. Among the signees is Amare Adams to Clemson, Malik Clark to South Carolina, Mikkel Skinner to Kentucky, with Will Wilson and Cam Strong both committing to NC State. Other players have also signed with institutions including Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and East Carolina, indicating a strong year for college football recruiting in South Carolina.