NC State men’s basketball team has seven players who are playing their first season with the Wolfpack, and each of them bring something different to the team. These newcomers consist of two freshmen, two graduate transfers, a juco transfer and two freshman walk-ons. 

Manny Bates (F), Redshirt Freshman

Redshirt freshman forward Manny Bates will see the court for the first time this season after redshirting last season due to a season-ending shoulder injury. Standing at 6 feet, 11 inches, Bates is the tallest player on the team and will add a great amount of height, which the Wolfpack has seriously lacked in previous years.

“I couldn’t be more happier for the kid, he deserves to play,” said head coach Kevin Keatts after beating Mount Olive. “I’m excited about him. If he can stay healthy, he will be one of the better players that have played here at the position.”

In the exhibition game against Mount Olive, Bates showed a strong presence in the paint offensively and defensively. For the day, he went 5 for 6 from the field while putting up 10 points in less than 20 minutes of play.  He had two energizing blocks and pulled down four rebounds, three of them being offensive boards. He also excited the crowd by throwing down a few powerful alley-oop slams. 

“[Manny Bates] was good,” said senior guard Markell Johnson. “You saw the blocks, the rebounds, the lobs. He’s going to be good this year … he’s always energized, that’s Manny Bates.”

Dereon Seabron (G), Freshman

True freshman guard Dereon Seabron will bring a great amount of athleticism to the Pack. Seabron, being 6-foot-7 and having an incredible jumping ability, could potentially bring highlight dunks this season. His vertical was showcased in the Primetime with the Pack dunk contest, which he won by putting down a few electrifying dunks. 

He is also very tall for a guard, which could create some mismatches against teams that lack height in the backcourt. Seabron did not play in the exhibition and might miss time to start the season after hurting his ankle, but when he returns, he will be a significant contributor for the team and will bring a unique skill set in the guard position this season.

“Seabron turned his ankle pretty bad three days ago in practice,” Keatts said. “X-rays were negative, and he should be fine; I don’t have a timetable for how long he will be out though.”

Pat Andree (F), Graduate Transfer

Experience is not something graduate transfer forward Pat Andree lacks. Andree has previously played three seasons at Lehigh and averaged 12.9 points while shooting 41.9% from 3-point range last season. The 6-foot-8 stretch forward can be very beneficial in creating spacing for the Wolfpack with his shooting. Andree can grab boards as well, which can be seen in his 6.2 rebounds per game last season with Lehigh.

In the exhibition game against Mount Olive, Andree struggled in the first half, going 1 for 6 from the field while not making any of his 3s. However, he turned it around in the second half and proved his shooting ability, finishing 3 for 8 from the 3-point line with 17 points. He also finished with four rebounds and a steal.

“He’s coming in and knowing a lot of things already that the coach doesn’t have to reteach, on the defensive end and offensive end,” Johnson said. “He’s an experienced guy and can definitely shoot the ball, off the bounce, and catch and shoot. He brings a lot to this team, and I’m glad to play with him.”

Danny Dixon (F), Graduate Transfer

Graduate transfer forward Danny Dixon does not lack experience either, previously playing a season with Missouri-Kansas City and playing two seasons with George Mason before that.

The 6-foot-10 forward will also bring significant height to the NC State frontcourt. He will be a productive player in the paint, averaging 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in his previous season with UMKC despite only playing 19.7 minutes per game. In the exhibition game, Dixon was dominant in the paint in only seven minutes of play. He pulled down five rebounds, blocked a shot and scored a basket. Dixon will most likely be utilized as a second-string center or power forward throughout the season.

A.J. Taylor (F), Redshirt Sophomore

Redshirt sophomore forward A.J. Taylor will be the swiss army knife for the team this year. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward has proved himself to be a player that can be utilized in many different ways. Taylor is a juco transfer from Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he averaged nine points and 7.3 rebounds in only 23.4 minutes per game. He also shot 47.9% from the field and 37% from deep. Although Taylor struggled to make open shots in the exhibition game, he still found ways to score regardless, putting up seven points and sinking one 3 along with grabbing three rebounds.

Taylor’s size and broad skill set make him useful as a guard or a forward whenever needed. He has shown he can shoot the 3 ball, grab boards, score consistently and guard multiple positions, which is why he was such a widely recruited juco transfer.

Max Farthing (G), Freshman Walk-On

Listed as a guard at 6 feet, 7 inches, Farthing is a Raleigh native from Word of God Academy who brings a great amount of size to the backcourt along with Seabron. Although Farthing may not get much playing time as a walk-on, he could see some time if Seabron or other guards fail to remain healthy. He has a decent 3-point shot and sank the only 3 he shot in the exhibition game. He is a similar player to A.J. Taylor in the fact that he could guard multiple positions with his size.

Chase Graham (G), Freshman Walk-On

6-foot-1 freshman guard Chase Graham is also a Raleigh native, from Athens Drive high school, who possesses substantial quickness and ball-handling skills. He is in the same position as Farthing in that he likely won’t see much time this season unless there are injuries in the backcourt. However, there is only true point guard on the entire team, being Markell Johnson. Graham has a desirable skill set for a backup point guard and could sneak in the rotation if the need is there.