Sophomore center Omer Yurtseven did not play like a five-star prospect in the 2016-17 season.
The 7-footer averaged just 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, often looking dazed and confused on the hardwood in his freshman campaign. At the conclusion of the season, Yurtseven was considered a bust.
Now he’s the centerpiece of the NC State men’s basketball team’s offensive attack.
Yurtseven is currently averaging 12.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on the season, both marks good for second-best on the team. The 245-pound big man’s points haven’t just come from the paint however, he’s shown off his versatility, often pulling mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers.
“We’re becoming very good at [the pick-and-pop game],” head coach Kevin Keatts said. “We’re becoming a threat because of the fact that [Yurtseven] can step out and make shots from the 3-point line and 18 feet out.”
His offensive prowess shouldn’t come as a surprise though.
In fact, in May 2016 the then-17-year-old exploded for 91 points and 28 boards in a Turkish U-18 basketball game for Fenerbahce. He went 34-of-49 from the field and sunk five shots from beyond the arc. While the outing wasn’t against ACC or NCAA Division-I talent, it was an incredible performance nonetheless.
In his second year with the Pack, Yurtseven has built his confidence up and developed into a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
NC State is 3-1 at home in conference play and the Istanbul, Turkey native has shined every time in PNC Arena.
While going against Duke stud Marvin Bagley III, Yurtseven chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds en route to an upset of the No. 2 Blue Devils. He then followed with a career-high 29 points against No. 19 Clemson where he swished 5-of-6 shots from three, 22 points and eight boards versus Wake Forest, and scored 28 points on Sunday against No. 25 Miami in a losing effort.
“I feel like I’m a big part of it, I’m definitely part of the puzzle,” Yurtseven said after beating the Demon Deacons. “Every game a guy steps up and the last three games I was the one.”
Though Keatts enjoys running a four-guard system, he has been drawing up more plays for Yurtseven as conference play progresses. Pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop plays have increased exponentially since his 29-point outburst versus the Tigers.
In the past two games, against the Demon Deacons and Hurricanes, NC State’s backcourt wasn’t afraid to feed Yurtseven the ball, shooting 16 times in both contests — and he needs to shoot more.
“As long as the shot’s falling, you’re going to keep shooting,” Yurtseven said after defeating Wake Forest.
One day prior to losing to Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Keatts said the Pack was “not as talented as most teams in the ACC” and NC State promptly proved that notion with a 30-point blowout loss to the Fighting Irish.
Although the Wolfpack is not one of the most talented teams in the conference, NC State is staying in the thick of things by playing through its most talented player: Yurtseven.
“[Yurtseven]’s been great,” redshirt junior guard Torin Dorn said. “He works extremely hard on his game, and it’s showing on the court.”
Excluding the loss to No. 3 Virginia on Jan. 14 where the Cavaliers’ vaunted defense shut down every inkling of NC State’s offense, Yurtseven has averaged 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game since the loss to Notre Dame.
Since Jan. 3, the Wolfpack has gone 3-3 in arguably college basketball’s toughest conference, and lived and died by the play of Yurtseven; furthermore, if he can sustain this hot streak, his name should appear on draft boards.
Regarded as a lottery pick at the beginning of his freshman season, the Turkish center contemplated entering the 2017 NBA Draft. Though he had a disappointing 2016-17, pro teams expressed interest in Yurtseven due to his measurables and potential, but he chose to return to Raleigh and it has definitely paid off.
Yurtseven has a long way to go if he is to be drafted in June. But as long as he’s got the hot hand and NC State is giving its star center the rock, the Wolfpack will continue its promising 2017-18 season.
