Late addition of Maverick Rowan boosts NC State’s stock this season
The unexpected departure of standout shooting guard Trevor Lacey this past spring at least had one positive consequence for NC State.
It made the Wolfpack a more attractive destination to another promising wing.
Maverick Rowan, a consensus top 50 prospect, committed to NC State on Sunday and will reclassify from the class of 2016 to the class of 2015. The 6-foot-7 wing probably wouldn’t have considered the Wolfpack if Lacey hadn’t opted to turn pro because there wouldn’t have been enough available playing time right away.
Lacey averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season, earned second-team all-ACC honors and had the ball in his hands down the stretch of virtually every big game NC State played. Rowan almost certainly won’t come close to making that kind of impact, but his arrival alleviates any lingering concerns about the Wolfpack’s perimeter depth and gives them another potential starter alongside point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber in the backcourt.
Rowan joins a group of wings that is promising but unproven. West Virginia transfer Terry Henderson, rising sophomores Caleb and Cody Martin and athletic incoming freshman Shaun Kirk will all compete with Rowan for playing time at both wing positions.
What Rowan will bring to NC State is excellent size and length and outstanding outside shooting. Rowan isn’t as quick or athletic as some of the other top wings in the Class of 2015, but he is a skilled scorer who can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers and create for himself off the dribble.
Rowan originally committed to Pittsburgh before moving from Ohio to Florida and reopening his recruitment. Interest surged after Rowan led Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons to a state title and revealed that he was considering entering college a year earlier than anticipated.
NC State outdueled a long list of suitors for Rowan including St. John’s, Louisville, West Virginia and UCLA. Now the Wolfpack appear even better positioned to challenge for an upper-third finish in the ACC and return to the NCAA tournament.
Barber should be one of the ACC’s better point guards if he can pick up where he left off late last season. Ever-improving Abdul-Malik Abu, defensive-minded Beeja Anya and elite rebounder Lennard Freeman form a solid frontcourt trio. And Rowan joins a group of unproven but promising wings who collectively should be able to diminish the impact of Lacey’s departure.
Rivals.com video of Maverick Rowan:
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
