Breaking news: Terquavion Smith is returning to NC State basketball
The prospects for NC State basketball next season received a significant boost Tuesday morning. Freshman guard Terquavion Smith announced that he was returning for another season with the Wolfpack.
Smith made the announcement to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“I’ve decided to play next season for NC State, the first team to offer me a scholarship,” Smith said via text to Givony. “I owe so much to Todd Ramasar, the agent who walked me through this process; Ross McMains, the incredible coach who prepared me so well for all I’ve just gone through, and the Life Sports Agency team. This past month has been eye opening on so many ways. Todd, Ross, and their team helped put me on the NBA map.
“I have to be honest and admit money has never been at the center of my thoughts. My agent explained to me that teams as high as the late teens, through the rest of the first round, all have me ranked as a first-round talent. It’s exciting to hear that. But I told him I have more work to do. I like school and my college in particular. Remember, my last two years have been so strange, thanks to the pandemic. I just want one more season to get everything right and just be a college student.”
Smith added that he believes another year will boost his stock.
“If things go like I expect, I won’t have to go through the combine experience the same way,” Smith said. “Everyone will see my games and our team all season, we are going to make sure they are seeing something special. The NBA can wait one year, I have more work to do in the ACC first.”
In the aftermath of a well-received NBA Draft Combine performance, mock drafts were predicting that Smith could be a late first round draft pick. NC State has not had a first round pick since Dennis Smith Jr. in 2017.
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ESPN rated Smith the No. 22 draft prospect available.
Smith averaged 16.3 points per game and set a school record for most threes made by a freshman with 96. That was also the third most made in a season overall for a NC State player, trailing the 104 that Scott Wood made in 2013 and Rodney Monroe had in 1991.
Smith shot 36.9 percent overall from long range, and he was NC State’s leading scorer in ACC games at 18.3 points. He shot 40.1 percent on three-pointers in league action (73 of 182).
NC State is still awaiting word from second-team All-ACC guard Dereon Seabron. Players have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday evening to announce their intentions.
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