Kevin Keatts talks Dereon Seabron, Terquavion Smith NBA decisions
NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts joked that sitting in the stands in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine is about as close as he’s ever going to get to being a part of the event. Keatts is there to support two of his Wolfpqack players, freshman guard Terquavion Smith and redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron.
Both Seabron and Smith have entered their names into the NBA Draft but are preserving their eligibility.
Keatts told the broadcast crew on ESPN2 that he is not conflicted while watching his players perform in front of NBA scouts.
“I’m a fan,” Keatts said. “I’m excited for those guys. I am honestly here just to support them. They have great representation. Both of those guys have a NCAA agent to give them the opportunity to return … to our team, but I am only here to support them.”
Seabron and Smith are two of the final decisions still to be made about the NC State basketball roster for next season. Four players have transferred out, and four have been signed from the transfer portal — Ole Miss guard Jarkel Joiner, Winthrop post player D.J. Burns Jr., Utah forward Dusan Mahorcic and La Salle wing Jack Clark. All four have at least four years in college.
“We lost some really good players, but we had the opportunity with my staff to go out and identify some needs that we had to have, and I think we’ve got four really good transfers coming that are older,” Keatts noted. “They’re smarter, they’ve played in college basketball. They’re proven, and then when you add them to the mix of guys that we have returning, the excitement is starting to grow.
“Whatever happens with these guys, we love them to death and we hope they are a part of it, but if they are fortunate enough to go to the NBA and live out their dreams and make money for their family, I am 100 percent behind them.”
Kevin Keatts Want Best For Seabron, Smith
Keatts added that he is not pressuring either player one way or the other.
“I’m the cheerleader,” Keatts explained. “I’m here if they need me. I want those guys to always know that I am supporting their decision. I am not making it. They’ve had good, positive feedback, and if they feel like the feedback is the right feedback for them, then they’ll make the decision.
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“I am in close contact with both of those guys on a daily basis. Just tell them I am proud of them and I want them to do the best job they can and we’ll figure it out at the end.”
Neither Seabron and Smith were highly rated prospects coming out of high school. Keatts noted that he has not had a lot of success recruiting “top 15, top 20 guys” at NC State. Keatts added that he takes pride in the program landing players that can be developed.
Keatts noted that when he offered Smith, the player was a 145-pound 15-year old that, “nobody thought he could play in the ACC.” Seabron more than tripled his scoring average from 5.2 as a rookie to 17.3 last year.
“Both of those guys chose NC State because they loved our work ethic,” Keatts explained. “They loved the way we play. We are a team that obviously tries to pick you up 94 feet. You know that when you come to NC State you have a lot of freedom on the offensive end, and I think that’s the reason that both of them came here.
“We’ve developed a great culture. I don’t let them get away with anything. We work them extremely hard, but it’s paid off for both of those guys.”
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