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Three-star small forward Shaun Kirk signs with NC State

Mark Gottfried

AP Photo

AP

This past week was a busy one for unsigned senior small forward Shaun Kirk. It all began with a good performance playing for Team Loaded at the adidas Uprising event in Indianapolis, which led to increased interest in some high-level program in need of another player during the late signing period. Monday night Kirk verbally committed to attend NC State, but that’s where things got a little interesting for him.

Tuesday reports surfaced that Kentucky offered Kirk a scholarship, leaving him with two choices: remain true to his commitment to NC State, or change course and head to Lexington. Wednesday the decision became final, as Kirk signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Mark Gottfried’s Wolfpack.

NC State announced Kirk’s signing Wednesday afternoon, and the 6-foot-6 Whiteville, North Carolina native is the program’s first signing in the Class of 2015, and he provides the Wolfpack with some needed depth on the wing.

With Ralston Turner out of eligibility and Trevor Lacey deciding to forego his final season of eligibility to turn pro, NC State had a couple openings to fill on the perimeter. Cat Barber will once again run the show and the Martin twins, Caleb and Cody, return as well from last year’s Sweet 16 team.

Kirk will be one of two players on the perimeter who did not play for NC State last season, with West Virginia transfer Terry Henderson being the other.

“I’m very excited to have Shaun join our program,” Gottfried said of Kirk in the release. “He has tremendous upside. I love how hard he plays, and as a perimeter player, he has great length. He has improved every time I watched him play, and he is a player who is committed to getting better.”