Purvis staying home, joining Pack

Mark Gottfried is off to a strong recruiting start as the head coach at N.C. State. On Monday, he secured the key piece to a stellar 2012 backcourt with the commitment of elite combo guard Rodney Purvis.

In a message to Rivals.com, Purvis summed up his thoughts about committing to his hometown school North Carolina State.

"There's no place like home!" he texted.

Out of Raleigh (N.C.) Upper Room Christian Academy, Purvis is a physical scorer and playmaker at 6-foot-3. He will team with crafty four-star lead guard Tyler Lewis.

"I'm a family-oriented guy and I love my family a lot and my mom," said Purvis at his press conference. "I just wasn't ready to leave her yet. With Coach Gottfried being a great guy and the great coach that he is, that's just a blessing in disguise for him to get the job at NC State, and for me to join him."

Once a Louisville commit, Purvis opened up his recruitment when his lead recruiter Tim Fuller took an assistant job at Missouri. After the Miami scandal, which involved new Missouri head coach Frank Haith made headlines, Purvis turned his attention away from the Tigers and focused on North Carolina State, Connecticut, Memphis and Ohio State.

North Carolina State and Connecticut were the only schools he visited out of that group.

Purvis is the No. 6 prospect in the Rivals150, and his future running mate Tyler Lewis is ranked No. 55.