Kevin Keatts discusses offseason moves, NBA decisions, schedule

NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts, between adding four transfer portal additions, hiring two new members of his staff and helping two of his star players navigating the NBA Draft process, has not had any time to rest since the season ended. Nor would Keatts contemplate such a thing after his team went through an 11-21 season.

“I didn’t deserve a day off,” Keatts said. “Once the season was over, I got away for a couple of days, but I didn’t stop working. My mind was completely working. It wouldn’t be any different than I do every year, but I go back and really evaluate myself.

“I am really critical of myself, and then I evaluate my team, my staff and everybody.”

Keatts felt that he has made some “critical changes.”

“The guys that were here as players and staff, they’ve done a great job for me,” Keatts added. “They’ve been very loyal to us, but sometimes good changes are necessary.”

There are still some decisions to be made. By June 1, freshman guard Terquavion Smith and redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron must decide whether or not to stay in the draft or turn pro.

Keatts noted that Smith was set to have a pro day on Wednesday. Keatts believes that each of them are 50-50 on whether or not to return.

“Both of them have NCAA certified agents, and they will both try to figure out what type of feedback they want to hear,” Keatts added. “I’m supportive. I’m in it just if they need someone to talk to, or they need a shoulder to lean on. But they have good people around them.

Keatts also still has one more vacancy on the staff after James Johnson stepped down in May. His goal is to have that hire in place by the time the new evaluation period starts in June.

“My main focus is being able to try to get the guys that we have that have been recruited in the portal, trying to finish our roster out, concentrating and focusing on Terqauvion and Dereon by going down to Chicago [for NBA Combine],” Keatts detailed.

“Not that a coach isn’t important, but I wanted to make sure we took care of other issues and then we’ll turn our attention to that.”

Whomever is hired will join fellow new assistant coaches Levi Watkins and Kareem Richardson. Watkins is a NC State alum, and Keatts noted Watkins has already done a lot for the Pack. Keatts also appreciates the positivity that Watkins brings to the staff.

“His recruiting is different than even mine,” Keatts added. “He’s able to sell being a player here, and what it’s like to be a player here.”

Keatts noted that Richardson has “a long history of being a successful coach.”

“He’s been a head coach,” Keatts added. “He can do a little bit of everything. He’s smart. He can recruit. He can scout.”

Kevin Keatts working on 2022-23 scheduling

Looking ahead to next season, Keatts confirmed that a game on a neutral court in December will happen against Vanderbilt. A return date against Saint Louis, who the Pack scheduled a home-and-home during the 2020-21 season, may happen this fall but could also be pushed back to 2023.

Keatts has also lined up a preseason trip to the Bahamas. NC State is scheduled to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis there over Thanksgiving weekend.

“We chose the Bahamas because we may get the opportunity to play on the same court that we’re going to play, and when you’re in the opportunity to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis, coaches and players don’t get the chance to have as much fun as the fans,” Keatts explained. “We want to take this is as a bonding trip. We want to play some really good basketball, but we want to come together as a team. We want to do some fun stuff.

“We want to come together as a team … This will be my third trip, and I never knew what the Bahamas was about because I was basically in a ballroom.”

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