NC State's Zoe Brooks paces newcomers to make an impact in fresh season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Freshman point guard Zoe Brooks arrived at NC State as the team’s highest-rated recruit in this year’s recruiting class — No. 9 in the country according to ESPN — with a lot of hype. Shortly after the Pack started practicing, Brooks’ talent was validated by those who watched her. 

Wolfpack senior guard Madison Hayes said she hadn’t seen Brooks play until the Plainfield, N.J., native started practicing with NC State, but when the veteran saw the young guard play, it was eye-opening.

“She’s really really talented,” Hayes said of Brooks at the ACC Tipoff on Tuesday. “She’s just so talented. I think she hasn’t realized how talented she really is. Once she scratches that surface, it’s to the sky.”

Hayes wasn’t the only one with a rave review of the Wolfpack’s top freshman, either. NC State coach Wes Moore thought Brooks brought an elite talent to Raleigh as well. 

“Excited about her,” Moore said. “She came in even better than advertised. We’ve got some really good freshmen, but they are freshmen. … They’re going to be a little up and down, but we’ve got a good core of veterans as well.”

While Brooks was the centerpiece of the Wolfpack’s best recruiting class in program history, ranked No. 4 by ESPN, she wasn’t the only one in it. NC State also has three other top-100 freshmen on campus: ESPN No. 55 Mallory Collier, ESPN No. 56 Laci Steele and ESPN No. 71 Maddie Cox. 

NC State’s large freshman class is the polar opposite of what the Wolfpack had last season without any first-year college players on the roster. Moore thought the lack of youth might have been detrimental to the team a little bit. 

“A year ago, we didn’t have any freshmen and I think that hurt us a little bit,” Moore said. “That was the first time in my career that we didn’t have any young kids out there. It’s exciting, it kind of rejuvenates you having some young kids mixed in with the veterans.”

The youthful vibe to NC State’s roster is balanced out by five returners. Junior guard Saniya Rivers said the freshmen brought a different zeal to the team. 

“They came in with a lot of energy,” Rivers said. “It’s helped us tremendously because we only have like five returners. … We’re just so versatile and they’re gelling really well.”

In addition to the four standout freshmen, the Pack also welcomed two transfers — Sacramento State’s Katie Peneueta and Southern Utah’s Lizzy Williamson. 

Peneueta posted the sixth-best three-point percentage last season at a 45.5% clip with the Hornets. She added three double-doubles and had 13 games with 10 or more points as well. Williamson, a post player, was the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season with the Thunderbirds. 

“They’re really good,” Hayes said of the transfers. “They came from lower schools, but KP is a really great shooter. Lizzy, she’s a really good post. She’s long, she can block shots, she can do a little baby hook that coach Moore would like. I think they’re going to be a really big piece as well.”

With six newcomers on the roster, NC State will likely have a batch of new faces making an impact on the floor this season. It will be led by Brooks, a McDonald’s All-American, but the transfer duo and the three other freshmen are also plausible players to find their way into the rotation this season. 

But as Hayes talked about the freshmen, she noticed something different about them — they arrived with a clear-cut desire to get better. 

“They came in ready to go, ready to focus,” Hayes said. “I could say what the difference was for me — I was just trying to experience college. But for them, they were ready to go. … Zoe’s going to be a huge part, Laci’s going to be a huge part. Every single one of them are.”