Head coaches Kevin Keatts and Wes Moore gave fans their first glimpse of the 2017 Wolfpack basketball teams at Primetime with the Pack on Friday night in Reynolds Coliseum.
The event consisted of a shooting stars competition and 3-point competition between the men’s and women’s teams, before the men’s team concluded the evening with a dunk contest.
There was also entertainment for the fans which started off with a lip sync battle between the teams, and also included a break dancing performance from the Raleigh Rockers. The final performance of the night was from unicycle sensation and renowned entertainer Red Panda.
Leslie Godoy, a first-year studying business administration, enjoyed her first Primetime with the Pack.
“I used to play basketball, I love basketball, so I just wanted to come and see both teams,” Godoy said. “My favorite part was probably the girl on the unicycle with the bowls.”
Tom Jakeway, a first-year studying business administration and finance, came for a different reason.
“I knew there was a free T-shirt,” Jakeway said.
The women’s team won the lip-sync battle, shooting stars challenge and the three-point contest. Women’s redshirt junior Armani Hawkins defeated men’s graduate Al Freeman in the finals of the 3-point contest.
Men’s junior Shaun Kirk won the dunk contest, defeating sophomore Markell Johnson in the final round. Kirk took off from the free-throw line to defeat Johnson’s between the legs dunk, which won the approval of the judges, who were Pack legends Chris Corchiani, Rodney Monroe, Cozell McQueen and Ernie Myers.
“I liked the girls versus guys mid-range, free throws and layup contest and the girls won which is pretty cool,” Jakeway said.
The season-opening event was a hit for players, coaches and most importantly, the fans.
“It was really cool, they did a lot of events that I didn’t think they would do,” Godoy said.
Godoy and Jakeway agreed that Primetime with the Pack absolutely lived up to their expectations.
The women open their season with an exhibition game on Nov. 2 against Lee University at Reynolds Coliseum, and the men will face Mars Hill in an exhibition game the next night at PNC Arena.
