Crazy Work: Ex-Tar Heel Becomes NC State Basketball Man of the Month
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It's been only a month since the NC State basketball staff announced the addition of Ven-Allen Lubin as one of the finishing pieces to its impressive 2025-26 roster construction in Raleigh under first-year Wolfpack head coach Will Wade.
ALSO READ: NC State Roster Now Stacks Up Above Tar Heels
Evidently, the veteran transfer from nearby rival UNC wasted no time displaying the work ethic that served as a bright spot late for the 2024-25 Tar Heels.
Lubin capped off his first month on campus by earning his second consecutive "Man of the Week" distinction. So, it came as no surprise on Wednesday when the NC State basketball program awarded the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Florida native the first "Man of the Month" honor of the Will Wade era, noting it goes "to the player who best exemplifies the Wolfpack Standard."
.@LubinVen is the Man of the Month. 👏
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) July 3, 2025
This honor is awarded monthly to the player who best exemplifies the Wolfpack Standard. pic.twitter.com/r10J5KvbeM
"We're thrilled to welcome Ven-Allen to our program," Wade said in early June. "Physically, he stands out with a wingspan over seven feet and a strong, powerful frame. Offensively, he creates mismatches — he can score over smaller defenders in the post and has the quickness to drive past bigger ones.
"He also showed the ability while at Vanderbilt [before transferring to UNC last year] to step out and be a weapon from three-point range and we'll look to build off of that. He's an incredibly efficient scorer, having led his team in field goal percentage each of his first three college seasons. Beyond that, he has a high basketball IQ and will be a tremendous presence in our locker room."
A projected starter in the eyes of many college basketball experts, Ven-Allen Lubin averaged 8.6 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds as a UNC basketball junior and first-year Tar Heel under Hubert Davis & Co. last season.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.
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