Rodd Baxley

6 days ago | fayobserver.com | Rodd Baxley

N.C. State basketball is beginning a new era under first-year coach Will Wade, who arrives in Raleigh ready to get the Wolfpack back at the top of the ACC. Following its ACC Tournament championship and Final Four appearance in two seasons ago, N.C. State posted a 12-19 record, missed the ACC Tournament and Kevin Keatts was fired the day after the regular season ended. Enter Wade, who was hired after leading McNeese State to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.

6 days ago | gastongazette.com | Rodd Baxley |Fayetteville Observer

Show Caption Hide Caption Will Wade discusses NC State basketball in opening press conferenceWill Wade was introduced as the N.C. State men's basketball coach Tuesday at Reynolds Coliseum. Here's the question-and-answer portion of the press conference. N.C. State basketball is beginning a new era under first-year coach Will Wade, who arrives in Raleigh ready to get the Wolfpack back at the top of the ACC.

6 days ago | fayobserver.com | Rodd Baxley

Bill Belichick might have found his starting quarterback for his debut season with UNC football. South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez committed to Belichick and the Tar Heels on April 17, giving the program a boost to its light QB room. Lopez joins a group that includes freshman Bryce Baker and veteran Max Johnson, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury. Purdue transfer Ryan Browne joined the Tar Heels when the winter portal window opened, but Browne re-entered the portal on April 16.

1 week ago | fayobserver.com | Rodd Baxley

Key returning player Drake Powell's decision on whether to enter the NBA draft will significantly impact the team's potential. The Tar Heels have added size with transfers Jarin Stevenson and Henri Veesaar, addressing a weakness from the previous season. Five-star recruit Caleb Wilson leads the incoming freshman class and is expected to contribute immediately as a defender and rebounder.

1 week ago | fayobserver.com | Rodd Baxley

Duke basketball player Kon Knueppel announced he will enter the 2025 NBA Draft. Knueppel is projected as a top-10 pick after a successful freshman season where he averaged 14.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He was the ACC Tournament MVP and a key player in Duke's Elite Eight run. Knueppel is expected to be a valuable two-way player in the NBA. Duke basketball’s Kon Knueppel will enter the 2025 NBA Draft, he announced Wednesday in a social media post. "Forever a Blue Devil.