Keatts off to successful start at NC State as they add 4-star Hellems
Friday night, NC State head coach Kevin Keatts and his staff got their weekends off to a great start when four-star forward Jericole Hellems announced for the Wolfpack. In his first year on the job, Keatts is looking as good as advertised.
The third piece of the Pack's 2018 recruiting puzzle, Hellems is a 6-foot-6 senior from St. Louis. Hellems is a skilled forward who has range on his shot, a feel for the game and he's capable of playing either the small or power forward spots. He's the third four-star prospect in the Pack's 2018 class as he joins in-state big men Ian Steere and Immanuel Bates.
The addition of Hellems is also helping to validate what State administration thought they were getting when they hired Keatts, a young and energetic coach who could connect with high level recruits.
No, Keatts isn't yet going toe to toe with Duke and North Carolina and beating them for elite prospects. They haven't gone head to head for anybody just yet and the reality is that if they did, the Heels and Blue Devils would still have the advantage.
However, Keatts is building momentum and it would be hard to expect much more than the top 30 class that he's currently hauled in. If he were able to add another piece like five-star Keldon Johnson -- who Keatts did a great job of even getting the Pack in contention for -- or four-star wing Saddiq Bey then his first class would truly be a smashing success.
Here's the thing, though, building a program isn't just about recruiting. It's about changing the culture within the program and establishing a firm foundation to build upon. There's a solid buzz coming out of Raleigh right now and early word is that under Keatts' direction there is a new level of accountability within the program that is going to be beneficial to the long term health and sustainability as a competitor in the ACC.
Looking ahead to 2019, Keatts start has to make the Pack at least a bit more attractive in the eyes of top 35 in state products like combo forward Joey Baker and wing Wendell Moore. Those from surrounding states like versatile guard Josiah James from South Carolina have to be taking notice as well. Can the Pack expect to land top 35 players like that in year number two? Maybe, maybe not. But they are going to be more competitive and it doesn't appear to be a stretch to consider that they can at least level up a little in year number two from the good players that they have landed in the first year.
Bottom line, keep an eye on what is happening in Raleigh because the Wolfpack appear to be headed in the right direction and through the early stages Kevin Keatts has been everything that he was advertised to be.
