How new NC State coach Will Wade approaches the transfer portal

Will Wade has a reputation of being an elite recruiter. It was on full display during his time at LSU, where he signed three top-26 classes, including the No. 3 group in the 2018 cycle.  Wade inked four top-60 recruits in that class, headlined by Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams. It was a splash around the nation, signaling that the Tigers were serious about basketball. And eventually, it paid off with three NCAA Tournament appearances in his five seasons as that recruiting cycle was key in Wade’s turnaround in Baton Rouge, La. But even though Wade has been able to recruit the high school ranks throughout his entire career — he signed De’Riante Jenkins, the No. 40 recruit in the 2016 class at VCU — the coach has also proved to utilize the transfer portal to his advantage.  That will be key at NC State, where Wade is set to be introduced on Tuesday afternoon as the program’s 21st coach. The 42-year-old will be tasked with looking to revitalize a Wolfpack squad that earned just five ACC wins without any victories outside Raleigh this past season with at least four open scholarships at his disposal. What does Wade’s transfer portal process look like? How was he able to find success at McNeese, a program that had 23 losses the season before he showed up, to make two straight NCAA Tournaments in a blink of an eye?