NC State Basketball Newcomer Now 'Trending' Toward Return
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Mike James finished second to Brandon Huntley-Hatfield in total points on last season's Louisville roster. Now, Huntley-Hatfield is averaging 8.7 points through the NC State basketball squad's 7-3 start, but James still hasn't played for the Wolfpack.
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The 6-foot-5, 200-pound James, a redshirt junior and former four-star prep from Orlando, Fla., underwent minor knee surgery in the preseason.
'I don't know," eighth-year NC State basketball head coach Keatts said about a possible date for Mike James' NC State basketball debut after watching his Wolfpack defeat the visiting Coppin State Eagles, 66-56, in Reynolds Coliseum on Tuesday night. "He's trending. He's getting better. He's doing some more. There's a little bit of individual workouts now.
"But I don't have a timetable when he's going to play."
Roughly four weeks ago, Keatts estimated that James, a projected top scorer for the Wolfpack, would be out another two and a half to three weeks.
"He's a 6-5 strong win that's played a lot of basketball," Keatts noted at the time. "And we're missing him."
It sounds like there's no chance Mike James will be available to play when the Wolfpack (7-3, 1-0 ACC) travels to Lawrence, Kan., for a road showdown against the No. 10-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (7-2, 0-0 Big 12) at 3:15 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).
NC State then has over a week off before hosting Rider on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. ET (ACC Network).
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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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