Debbie Antonelli analyzes new NC State women's basketball players

In May, former NC State player, well-known college hoops analyst and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Debbie Antonelli holds a fundraiser dear to her heart. Every hour, for 24 straight hours, Antonelli shoots until she makes 100 free throws to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

Starting at noon Saturday, May 14, Antonelli made 94.5 percent of her free throws. She might be most proud of making all 100 at the 4 a.m. hour.

Overall, Antonelli took 2,541 free throws to make 2,400. More importantly, she is closing in on $200,000 goal for her fundraiser, less than $4,000 left as of Friday.

Antonelli’s enthusiasm for the “Nothing But Net” campaign was still evident Friday when she talked with The Wolfpacker. She was also impressed by the job NC State women’s basketball coach Wes Moore had done reloading his roster after three straight ACC Tournament titles and an Elite Eight appearance this past spring.

After adding three touted transfers, all former McDonald’s All-Americans in South Carolina freshman guard Saniya Rivers, Florida State junior center River Baldwin and Maryland redshirt junior forward Mimi Collins, Antonelli sees a roster good enough to compete on a national level again.

“I think NC State stays in the conversation for the conference championship,” Antonelli noted. “Virginia, Louisville, Notre Dame, North Carolina, you could have five of the top 15 teams in the country this year, which would be really interesting.”

Antonelli is also quick to note the success for NC State in the transfer portal extends beyond Moore.

“I think you have to give credit to the Wolfpack fans for some of this because the environment they have created,” Antonelli explained. “It’s become a destination point.”

Debbie Antonelli Sees All Three Newcomers Fitting In Well

Of the three additions, Rivers’ commitment to NC State is likely to garner the most attention. Regarded as one of the elite prospects in the 2021 recruiting class, Rivers chose South Carolina over everyone in the country coming out of Ashley High in Wilmington, N.C.

Antonelli noted, “Saniya Rivers’ upside is absolutely incredible.”

“She’s the most talented of the three coming in,” Antonelli continued.

The key for Rivers will be to improve her shooting. She made just 1 of 31 three-point attempts last season, but Antonelli noted she had the confidence to keep trying. She missed on all three attempts while playing 20 minutes in a Final Four semifinal win over Louisville.

“She is long and athletic,” Antonelli said. “She’ll definitely be a perimeter stopper defensively. I think that’s one of her best skills. She has the ability to put it on the floor and get to the basket.

“She will need to improve her three-point shooting, but I think she’ll work on it. She was not a very good three-point shooter last year. She’s not afraid to take them, which means she’s going to have to work at it. I think she will.

“This is a significant pick up for Wes because she is long and athletic, and I think is a really high IQ player.”

While Rivers has the talent, Antonelli noted that Baldwin and Collins are the two that bring valuable experience. Collins may have also had the most success of the three in college. Two seasons ago, the 6-foot-3 Collins was honorable mention All-Big Ten at Maryland.

Collins was first to commit among the three transfers.

Antonelli sees familiarities with Collins and returning NC State forward Jada Boyd, who has been one of the top reserves in the ACC the past two years playing behind WNBA draft pick Kayla Jones.

“She has great toughness,” Antonelli said of Collins. “She is going to take the difficult defensive assignment, rebound. She’s capable of guarding on the perimeter, so that allows Wes to change up his ball screen defense because she has the versatility defensively. She also can shoot the three.

“I see her … as somebody who can come in, great energy, rebound, defend, run the floor hard, and she’ll be a great offensive rebounder and a nice face-up addition as a post player.”

The 6-foot-5 Baldwin will team with returnees Camille Hobby and Sophie Hart to provide low post options in Moore’s four-out, one-in offense. Antonelli noted that Baldwin’s impact extends beyond scoring, however.

“She doesn’t need the ball to be successful in Wes’ system,” Antonelli explained. “He can move her around. Her three-point shooting is going to have to improve also, but I think that is part of the reason if you’re 6-5 you go play for Wes because you know you are going to be able to play away from the basket a little bit. Similar to what [Elissa] Cunane was able to do.

“River is a little bit strong as a post player. She’s a very good rebounder, very good defender. You have somebody that comes to you and doesn’t need the ball to help you win. You got plenty of offense around her already. I think she’s a great fit. A perfect fit for what Wes likes to do with the four-out, one-in offense.”

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