Wolfpack Lands Four-Star Power Forward

Four-star power forward Ernest Ross has become the second member of NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts' 2021 recruiting class

Six-foot-9 power forward Ernest Ross of Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Fla., has become the second four-star basketball recruit from the Class of 2021 to commit to NC State.

The top-50 ranked prospect chose the Wolfpack over offers from LSU, Florida, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, among others. He averaged 16.0 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game as a junior.

Ross has yet to visit State’s campus because of the NCAA’s temporary hold on in-person contact during the coronavirus crisis, but was impressed enough by a recent virtual visit to make a commitment.

"Ernest is special,” Santa Fe coach Elliott Harris told the Gainesville Sun after Ross scored 32 points and had at least six blocks in a game in January. “When he’s in top gear it’s hard to stop him. He’s top 30 in the nation and you can see why. He’s just high motor. And when he’s playing his game, it’s hard to stop him.”

Ross joins coach Kevin Keatts' first committed recruit, 6-3 shooting guard Terquavion Smith from Farmville Central High School in Eastern North Carolina, who announced his intention to play for the Wolfpack in February 2019.

Long and athletic with a high ceiling with a skill set that has been compared to that of current State star D.J. Funderburk, Ross is already an effective rebounder and scorer in transition who is still developing physically at just over 200 pounds.

His commitment could bode well for Keatts' recruitment of another four-star Central Florida prospect, wing Michael James of Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Fla., whgo was offered by Keatts last week.

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