Red-Hot NC State Basketball Coaches Land Big Man, At Least Temporarily
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Last week, new NC State basketball head honcho Will Wade and his crew doubled their transfer haul from three to six prizes. This week, they've emerged as favorites for a few more, including top-ranked point guard PJ Haggerty out of Memphis, while officially bumping their 2025 recruiting collection to three prospects via a commitment from Paul Mbiya.
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On Friday afternoon, the 6-foot-11, 260-pound Congolese center Mbiya, a 20-year-old who has only been playing basketball for a few years but displays loads of potential in the paint with a reported 7-foot-7 wingspan, pledged allegiance to Wade & Co. over several other major offers. However, he has also declared for the NBA Draft and must end up withdrawing his name to retain his college eligibility.
According to DraftExpress director of scouting Jon Chepkevich, Mbiya "will continue testing the 2025 NBA Draft waters, recently accepting an invitation to the adidas Eurocamp (May 31st to June 2nd) in Treviso, Italy."
Mbiya will continue testing the 2025 NBA Draft waters, recently accepting an invitation to the adidas Eurocamp (May 31st to June 2nd) in Treviso, Italy. https://t.co/1fC32gD945
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 2, 2025
Mbiya spent time at NBA Academy Africa before moving to the EuroLeague, where he's fresh off averaging a double-double to go along with over three blocks per game for French club ASVEL.
As things stand, the incoming NC State basketball freshman class contains Paul Mbiya, Sagemont Prep School (Fla.) four-star shooting guard Matt Able, and Christ School (N.C.) four-star power forward Zymicah Wilkins.
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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