NC State in the mix for two more top basketball recruits

N.C. State basketball coach Mark Gottfried is scheduled to talk with the media Tuesday, but the Wolfpack's roster could change again by then.

In what has already been an eventful offseason, the Wolfpack is still in the mix for 7-footer Georgios Papagiannis and recently reclassified small forward Maverick Rowan, a pair of high-profile recruits who would be eligible to play this season.

Papagiannis, who is playing for the Greek national team in the FIBA Under-19 World Championships, told Sports Illustrated that N.C. State is on his final list of four college teams with Oregon, St. John's and Kentucky.

Whichever team gets Papagiannis (7-1 and 260 pounds) is getting a true post player, not a prototypical European prospect who likes to play away from the basket, Evan Daniels, the director of recruiting for Scout, said.

"He has a big frame and he's physical," Daniels said. "He's not the most athletic guy in the world, but he's strong and he has a great set of hands."

There's also a chance the big 18-year-old could stay in Greece and play for his club team this season and then enter the NBA draft next summer.

Papagiannis' father told SI he wants his son to play a season of college basketball. Papagiannis told SI that he would like to make his decision soon, possibly by July 5.

N.C. State, coming off its second Sweet 16 appearance in four years, only has three scholarship forwards for next season.

Gottfried visited Papagiannis in April, before picking up a commitment from 6-7 wing Shaun Kirk from Whiteville. Kirk chose N.C. State after a brief courtship with Kentucky.

N.C. State also added guard Torin Dorn, a transfer from Charlotte, in June but he will have to sit out the 2015-16 season. That leaves the Wolfpack with eight eligible scholarship players and room for four more.

Since losing to Louisville in the Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament, guard Trevor Lacey unexpectedly left early to pursue a pro career and forward Kyle Washington transferred. Lacey went undrafted and will try to make the Cleveland Cavaliers roster as a free agent. CBS Sports reported Wednesday that Washington will transfer to Cincinnati.

Rowan, who spent the past season at Cardinal Gibbons High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., recently decided to move up from the class of 2016. The 6-7, 180-pound small forward is taking summer classes with the plan to play college basketball next season.

Rowan, a polished scorer, was considered a top 50-prospect of the class of 2016 before his decision to reclassify. Rowan told Scout he will choose from N.C. State, St. John's and Wisconsin.

Rowan has made his reputation as one of the best shooters in the country.

"But he's not just a shooter," Daniels said. "He's really a very good all-around scorer."

Rowan has multiple connections to St. John's, where he has already taken an official visit.

Rowan's dad, Ron, played for St. John's in the 1980s and was teammates of new Red Storm coach Chris Mullin. St. John's assistant Barry Rohrssen also previously recruited Rowan when Rohrssen was an assistant at Pittsburgh. Rowan originally committed to Pitt.

Rowan is expected to visit N.C. State in the upcoming weeks and make a decision in August.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 11:15 AM with the headline "NC State in the mix for two more top basketball recruits."