SerpApi.Org
NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore could theoretically have every senior back next year except Colorado point guard transfer Desiree Wootson, who spent three years at North Texas and one with the Buffaloes.
Moore will be navigating the new five-year eligibility rule while still trying to figure out how many class of 2027 players he’d like to add.
Moore knows that transfer portal next spring could shake things up and senior power forward Khamil Pierre could attempt the jump to the WNBA Draft. Moore signed three freshmen players in the class of 2026, and youthful exuberance can have a positive affect on the program.
“We had one year where we had no freshmen, and it just wasn’t good,” Moore said. “You got to have those young players that can bring the energy, and you have to teach them. So it kind of hopefully seeps into the returning players that think they know it all. You know, at least they’re hearing it again.”
NC State has yet to land a verbal commitment for the class of 2027, but Moore and his staff have been busy on the road this spring and summer.
The Nike Tournament of Champions takes place in Chicago, Ill., this weekend, Under Armour Association will have the Spooky Nook Champion Mill in Hamilton, Ohio, and adidas Session III is in Rock Hill, S.C.
The top players in each class will always be coveted, but Moore also said NC State is operating in “win now” mode.
“I think all of us coaches, we’ve been out recruiting,” Moore said. “We have another recruiting weekend coming up this weekend. We all are saying the same thing.
“First of all, there’s a lot of uncertainty. I mean, we don’t know for sure. I think about our whole team could stay, except for maybe Desiree Wooten, who used a redshirt [while at North Texas].”
NC State has six seniors on the roster. The ones that will have earned their degrees might feel they’ve achieved their goals and move forward.
“Do they stick around for that extra year?” Moore said. “Several of them have shown interest in doing that. There’s some uncertainty there. How do you plan for it? How many people do you sign out of high school? It also opens up a whole other recruiting class of portals.”
Regardless of the uncertainty, Moore believes freshmen remain the future of the program. He typically doesn’t use all 15 roster spots, but it could make more sense to have “developmental” spots at the end of the bench, especially since redshirting isn’t an option.
“I’ve always loved recruiting freshmen and watching them grow and develop and get better and blossom into great players,” Moore said.
One concern coaches have long had about adding transfers is seeing players who have invested time in the program lose potential playing time to newcomers.
“If they’re coming in as a normal freshman and having to work and develop to earn their spot, are they going to get disenchanted with having to wait their turn?” Moore said. “Then you also have to question if everything’s year to year, we’re trying to win now.
“So next year, are you better off having a true freshman or are you better off having a kid that maybe has four years of college experience?”
Freshmen also offer the possibility of outperforming expectations and developing into stars. That higher ceiling may not be realized immediately, while a fourth- or fifth-year transfer is likely ready to contribute from day one. The trade-off is cost.
“Obviously, if you can get a great player out of high school, you take them,” Moore said. “But if it’s a borderline player, then you got to really consider, just waiting on the portal and see what happens.
“Let me add, portal’s going to cost you more money than a freshman. You also got to consider that when you’re trying to stretch a budget and build a roster.”
