It’s been a good week to be a member of Wolfpack Nation.
Just two days after N.C. State landed a commitment from Omer Yurtseven, Abdul-Malik Abu held a press conference to announce that he will be returning to school for his junior season.
Abu averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 boards as a sophomore last season. He declared for the NBA Draft but did not get invited to the NBA Combine.
Mark Gottfried’s program has dealt with a number of defections this offseason -- from Cat Barber turning professional to the Martin twins opting to transfer -- but the Wolfpack look like they’ll have a chance to make some noise in the ACC this season. Their projected starting lineup that features top ten recruit Dennis Smith Jr., Terry Henderson, Maverick Rowan, Abu and Yurtseven.
Who knows how well all those pieces will fit together, but on paper, N.C. State looks like a team that could finish in the top half of the conference.