Jarkel Joiner reflects on his legacy at NC State

It might have been a bit of a down year for the ACC, but you’d have a hard time convincing NC State‘s players or coaches of that, not after the first NCAA Tournament trip in five years.

For the players who got to experience an NCAA Tournament game, like NC State’s Jarkel Joiner, it was the ride of a lifetime.

“Man, it’s been great,” Joiner said following NC State’s loss to Creighton. “When I first came on my visit, coach told me we was going to go to the NCAA Tournament, and everything he said to me in the office came true, man. And I love him to death.”

Joiner was a massive part of NC State’s run in his third go at it with a college program. After two years at Cal State Bakersfield, Joiner transferred to Ole Miss.

He played there for two years before joining the Wolfpack ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. He managed to averaged 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while helping power NC State to a 23-11 record and a 12-8 mark in ACC play.

All of that ultimately led to one ticket to the Big Dance.

“I’m so glad I came here,” Joiner said. “It’s so family oriented and I’m glad that we got back to the NCAA Tournament. Coach has been a winner all his life, and I’m so glad he’s been able to coach me and get me to here. It’s been fun.”

Kevin Keatts building some consistency

While the NC State program surely isn’t exactly where coach Kevin Keatts wants it, testimonials like Joiner’s can only help in recruiting going forward. Tournament appearances generally help, too.

And Keatts has now led NC State to NCAA Tournament appearances in two of his six seasons in charge (COVID-19 also wiped out one potential appearance).

That’s enough to entice recruits down the road, hopefully building on the success and leading to even more consistency making the Big Dance.

This season also came after a dismal 2021-22 campaign in which NC State managed to win only 11 games (just four in ACC play), leaving Keatts a little bit on the hot seat. So he was naturally proud of his group this season.

“I am proud,” Keatts said after losing to the Bluejays. “We did some really great things this year. Maybe one of the best turnarounds in college basketball, and it’s because of the people around me and the staff that I put together, and everybody’s hard work and everybody’s commitment to get us to where we needed to be.”

In six seasons at NC State, Keatts has put together a 113-79 record (.589) with a 55-58 (.487) mark in the ACC.