JJ Andrews Represents What NC State Basketball Lacks of Late
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Eighth-year NC State basketball head coach Kevin Keatts has never coached a Wolfpack player who boasted a prep composite ranking better than No. 39 overall. And most of his top pledges from the recruiting trail have ended up either transferring out of Raleigh or never even suiting up for the program in the first place.
ALSO READ: Highest-Ranked 2025 Wolfpack Target Makes Some Cuts
The shortage of top-shelf weapons serves as the simplest explanation for the Wolfpack's current struggles (9-9, 2-5 ACC) following the miracle postseason success last go-round, in which Keatts & Co. enjoyed the good fortune of unique talents DJ Burns and DJ Horne, who just happened to far outperform their stocks from their high school days after transferring to NC State.
On that note, if Keatts is to consistently achieve the results that some NC State basketball fans feel is reasonable to expect from an ACC school on Tobacco Road, one could argue he'll need to make a habit of landing the likes of a JJ Andrews, the Wolfpack's highest-ranked target among high school juniors at No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite.
Perhaps it's farfetched.
But Andrews, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound four-star guard at Little Rock Christian Academy (Ark.) displaying a combination of length, athleticism, and skills rarely seen in Raleigh these days, has already visited the Wolfpack. That trip came in late September, roughly two months after he received an offer from Keatts and his crew.
Now, Andrews might be in line for a bump in his rankings. After all, the gifted southpaw has been delivering rim-rocking statements this year. Most recently, he advertised the following steal and in-game windmill dunk from his Warriors' 64-54 road win over the Catholic High School Rockets on Friday night:
First in-game Windmill 🌬️ pic.twitter.com/2J0oaeocXJ
— JaShawn “JJ” Andrews (@JJAndrews2026) January 18, 2025
He finished with 27 points in the contest, powering Little Rock Christian to its fifth conference victory in as many tries to improve to 15-4 overall this season.
Have a day, @JJAndrews2026!!
— Jack Allen KATV (@JackAllenTV) January 18, 2025
The @LRCAAthletics 4-star junior put up 27 points, including some ferocious finishes, to lead the Warriors to a 64-54 conference road win over Catholic. #ARPreps pic.twitter.com/0TYjd8JxUb
JJ Andrews has yet to name finalists. However, he has continued to mention the NC State basketball recruiting team as one of his most persistent suitors.
Stay tuned to NC State Wolfpack On SI for more NC State basketball recruiting news.
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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