NC State men’s basketball is just under a week away from starting its season. It will be the first look at a roster that blends returners from last year’s Final Four squad and newcomers looking to make an immediate impact.

The Wolfpack will be playing with a chip on its shoulders this year as it has been slept on going into this season after a Final Four run this past March. This means that players will need to step up and show that last year’s run was not a fluke and NC State basketball is truly putting itself back on the map.

With transfers, veteran leadership and explosive athleticism, the Pack could be a sleeper team in the ACC. Let’s take a look at NC State’s roster and hand out some preseason awards.

MVP — Jayden Taylor, senior guard

Senior guard Jayden Taylor is running it back for his senior year with the Wolfpack. Taylor was a crucial piece during last year’s postseason, making tough shots and playing good defense. Even though he was a little unpredictable last year, Taylor has the most potential on the team.

Taylor was a consistent scorer last season, averaging around 11 points a game. However, he has the ability to become the Pack’s go-to guy on offense. The Butler transfer is known as an isolation player, as he likes to size up his matchups and hit them with quick dribbles to knock off their balance. Taylor also showed that he can rise up over smaller players and burst by slower players with his speed. He also uses his athleticism to score in the paint. If Taylor improved upon these skills in the offseason, he could be the best offensive player on the team.

Taylor’s athleticism is not the only part of his offensive bag as he shot 37% from 3 last year and had the second most 3-pointers on the team. He is also a well-known defender, especially on the perimeter. With his quick feet and agility, Taylor can stay in front of his man and use active hands to knock out the ball. Taylor was second on the team in steals last year with 47 and was always a chase-down block threat.

Taylor’s electric offense, shooting ability and lockdown defense project him to be NC State’s most valuable player for this year.

Defensive player of the year — Ben Middlebrooks, senior forward

Senior forward Ben Middlebrooks is a returning senior, along with Taylor, and a force on the defensive end.

Middlebrooks was the backup forward for DJ Burns last year and was constantly subbed in for Burns because of his ability as a significantly better defender. Middlebrooks is a lengthy 6-foot-10-inch man and can use his long arms to swat away layups and dunk opportunities at the rim. Middlebrooks had 24 blocks last year, three of those against Duke in the Elite Eight.

He showed a lot of defensive potential with limited minutes, and now that Middlebrooks will see more minutes, his defense will be even more critical this year.

Middlebrooks is athletic for a forward of his height, able to stretch his defense from sideline to sideline. Middlebrooks is also an intense hustler who goes after every loose ball and contests any shot he is near. This hustle contributed to 34 steals last year.

The Clemson transfer can also be a premier rebounder — he averaged around five rebounds a game last season. He led the team in offensive rebounds with 82 last season.

Middlebrooks is an athletic wall of a man, who will cause problems defensively and on the boards. Therefore, Middlebrooks projects to be the Wolfpack’s best defender this season.

Breakout player — Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, senior forward

Senior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield was the first transfer that head coach Kevin Keatts grabbed out of the portal. Keatts was very impressed with Hatfield last season after coming fifth in voting for Most Improved Player in the ACC and thought he would be a great addition to the team with the loss of Burns.

Hatfield started all 32 games for Louisville last year and even dropped 17 points on the Wolfpack in the opener of the ACC tournament.

Hatfield is known to be an avid rebounder as he was top five in the ACC last year with 8.4 boards a game. Something that the Wolfpack crucially needed at times last year was good defensive rebounding. With the addition of Hatfield, his rebounding can take the defense to a new level.

Hatfield is also an overlooked scorer as he averaged around 13 points per game last year and is looking for the opportunity to score more. Keatts says he has a method of creating scorers from transfers, and he doesn’t see Hatfield as an exception. With Hatfield’s smooth jumper, the forward could be looking at averaging 17 points per game with a few touch-ups on footwork and good coaching.

The Louisville transfer is coming off an impressive season, and with hard work, he will only improve. Therefore, Hatfield is projected to be the breakout player for the Pack.

Sixth player — Paul McNeil Jr., freshman guard

Even though freshman guard Paul McNeil Jr. has yet to suit up for his first collegiate game, he has shown lots of potential to make an immediate impact.

The 45th overall recruit played for Richmond Senior High School, where his career will go down in the record books. McNeil averaged 31.7 points per game along with 9.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists. McNeil also broke the NCHSAA single-game scoring record with 71 points, a record that was set in 1950.

McNeil can light up the gym with his intelligent offense and agility. Playing at his own pace and finding weaknesses to exploit in the defense with his quick speed are his strengths. McNeil also has some lethal hops, leading to acrobatic layups and flashy dunks that are sure to get the crowd involved.

The freshman will be crucial to the bench’s offense, and will most likely be the primary scorer off the bench. McNeil is a player to steal the show when he comes on the court, and he will be trying to prove his worth and fight for a starting position.

McNeil is ready to make a name for himself as a member of the Wolfpack, and he has what it takes to make an impact off the bench in year one.