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Most coaches talk about wanting to keep in-state players at home, using familiarity to market their program. Not everyone can actually do it.
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First-year N.C. State head coach Justin Gainey did.
Star guard Paul McNeil, from Rockingham, announced on May 1 he would return to the Pack, playing under three different coaches in three years.
“It was a big deal, and we’re excited to have him back,” Gainey said Thursday. “I’m excited to be a part of his continued growth and development.”
Gainey said — first at the ACC spring meetings and again during his news conference this week — that the two engaged in a number of in-depth conversations throughout the re-recruiting process.
They talked about basketball, of course, but they went much deeper than athletics. Gainey and McNeil discussed family, relationships, their backgrounds — they are both from North Carolina — and how McNeil wants to be remembered.
“I don’t know if you could say there’s a better shooter in the state of North Carolina than Paul McNeil is right now,” Gainey said. “He’s one of ours. He is N.C. State. He’s an N.C. State guy, right? That made it even more important to keep one of ours home.”
It wasn’t one-sided, either. As much as Gainey got to know about McNeil, the guard learned about his new coach, too. He learned about Gainey’s own family, motivations and experience with the Wolfpack.
“We formed a bond and formed a relationship that will, I think, help us both as we embark on what we’re walking into,” Gainey said.
McNeil entered the transfer portal at the beginning of April, following former coach Will Wade’s abrupt departure, to evaluate his options. The rising junior was listed as one of the best prospects in the portal and linked to North Carolina, Virginia Tech, LSU and Kentucky. During his decision-making process, McNeil posted cryptic images and song lyrics on his Instagram.
Some fans, however, became increasingly worried and frustrated as they waited for an announcement. He put their minds at ease about three weeks after entering the portal.
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Gainey said he didn’t feel the same way; no shared frustrations or upset feelings. In fact, Gainey respected McNeil’s timeline and process. There was no rushing. The two stayed in regular contact while McNeil vetted other programs, but Gainey knew the rising junior had to be at peace with his decision. He had to go through his process to feel comfortable.
“It couldn’t be whatever coach convinced him or whatever,” Gainey said. “I wanted it to be organic.”
That’s not to say Gainey didn’t sell McNeil on his vision for the program, and where he would fit into the scheme.
The staff has prioritized shooting during its roster construction, and McNeil fit into that strategy. McNeil’s positional size and ability to play at multiple spots made him a valuable player that N.C. State can utilize in various schemes and lineups.
“It ended up working out pretty good when we think about what our goal was when we got into it,” Gainey said, noting the emphasis on recruiting a starting five, “and then how we finished up.”
Tennessee, Gainey’s previous stop, was the first school to offer McNeil a scholarship when he was in 10th grade. Gainey remembers watching him play at various events and believing in McNeil’s talents four years ago.
Even though the North Carolina native didn’t end up with the Volunteers — he committed to Kevin Keatts — Gainey followed McNeil’s career through high school and into college. He possesses a solid understanding of McNeil’s journey. Gainey knows the guard’s freshman year didn’t go quite as he’d hoped, while sophomore year exceeded expectations.
Now, they’re looking to build on both years. The expectation is set, not only for McNeil’s individual game, but also for the program. It can be a destination for in-state players to have success and have a lasting legacy.
“It was used to keep him home,” Gainey said. “I think we’ll get a better feel — as we continue to go out on the road and recruit, bring guys to campus — on the residual effect of it. But I do know different people in the grassroots community have been excited about it, have been calling and just excited that we were able to keep him.”
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