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Jose Perez considering NC State as transfer announcement looms

MattCarterby:Matt Carter•10/30/22•

TheWolfpacker

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(Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)

Is there the potential for NC State basketball to make a very late addition to the 2022-23 basketball roster? Manhattan guard Jose Perez is looking for a new home after his head coach Steve Masiello was fired in October weeks before the start of the regular season.

According to a report, Perez is heavily considering NC State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri, TCU and West Virginia. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder will reveal his new destination Sunday at 5 p.m.

The recently-turned 24-year old was the preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year choice after he averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game last year for the Jaspers.

The Bronx native started his career in the state of North Carolina at Gardner-Webb, averaging 15.1 points per game as a rookie and finishing runner-up for Big South Conference Freshman of the Year. Perez then contributed 15.2 points a year later. He transferred to Marquette for the 2020-21 campaign but played just 10 games there, averaging 3.1 points over 11.2 minutes per contest.

Perez told a reporter that his year at Marquette was, “Frustrating, very frustrating.”

“I wasn’t supposed to play this season, I was suppose to redshirt,” he added. “That’s why I missed 16 games. I asked to play for the betterment of the team and what happened happened. New coach (Shaka Smart0 came in and said what he had to say. People love him. Can’t say nothing about him. It is what it is. It’s a business.”

That led to Perez’s move to Manhattan, where he shined especially in conference play, for a Jaspers squad that went 15-15 overall and 8-12 in the MAAC.

There are several questions that must be resolved for Perez. Since the semester is nearing completion, Perez would unlikely be available before the fall academic calendar is complete.

Then there is whether or not Perez would be immediately eligible. According to reports, Perez is making his case around the fact that his coach was just recently fired.

Prior to college, Perez was a New York City standout at Wings Academy, making the All-New York City squad twice. He also received some international experience playing for the Dominican Republic Junior National Team.

Adding Perez woud be a boost to the NC State basketball roster. One of the top question marks on the team is depth in the backcourt. Initial expectations are that super senior Jarkel Joiner, sophomore Terquavion Smith and senior Casey Morsell would be the top guards with sophomore Breon Pass and freshman LJ Thomas the top reserves.

However, Only Smith from that group is taller than 6-foot-3, and three of those players 6-foot-2 or shorter. Potentially adding Jose Perez would not only add a skilled talent but also boost the depth and height in the backcourt.

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