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NC State’s Mike James not ruled out for year yet, decision to be made next week

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•about 15 hours•

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Mike James
(Photo courtesy of Mike James' Instagram).

This season hasn’t gone the way former Louisville guard Mike James had anticipated when he committed to NC State through the transfer portal. And even though the Wolfpack has had an up-and-down performance on the court in that time, James has been unable to help his teammates. 

James, who underwent a knee scope just before the 2024-25 campaign began, hasn’t set foot on the court for a game this season. It was described to be a two to four week injury, initially, but he has yet to fully participate in a practice since the surgery. 

Now, with just 10 regular season games left, NC State coach Kevin Keatts said they are still in a waiting mode about James’ status this year.

“I just don’t know where he’s at,” Keatts said on Monday’s ACC media call. “It’s getting to the point where probably in the next week or so, we’ll have a decision about whether it even makes sense for him to play this year or to sit out.”

The Orlando, Fla., native averaged 12.6 points with 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season at Louisville. He played in 33.3 minutes a night while shooting 39.6% from the floor, including 34% from beyond the arc. 

James was expected to be a key piece of what NC State was looking for this year, but the Wolfpack has had to manage without him. He likely would have played on the wing for the Pack, taking some of the load off of senior guard Jayden Taylor. 

But instead, James has donned a sweatsuit on the Wolfpack’s bench for each of its first 21 games this year.

While the injury has kept James sidelined, he has been able to take a small step forward in the recent weeks. The guard was able to do some individual workouts with the Wolfpack’s coaching staff, while he has been able to join a few contact drills. 

Even though he has started to work into the mix, there is not a clear timeline for his return to the court. Keatts noted that a decision on if he will play this season or not will have to be made soon — though the door is still open for his NC State debut down the stretch. 

The Wolfpack’s eighth-year coach also noted that James has grown frustrated with the recovery process and that he wants to be on the floor with his teammates. 

“Hopefully he takes a positive turn,” Keatts said. “There could be a chance he plays this year, I’m not going to rule that out yet. But I think a conversation will be had with him in a week or so.”

If James does not play in a game this season, he will be eligible to apply for a medical redshirt. James arrived in Raleigh with two years of eligibility remaining. If he sits this season, it would be the second time in the last four years that James was unable to play due to injury after he had a torn Acillies in his left leg just before his freshman season. 

The Wolfpack heads west this week to play at Cal (Wednesday, 11 p.m. ET) and Stanford (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET) before it returns home to host Louisville (Feb. 12, 7 p.m.).

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