Recruits react to Gottfried's removal as NC State coach

NC State coach Mark Gottfried was relieved of his duties this week, but will remain on board for the remaining few games of the Wolfpack's disappointing season, which stands at 14-13 after six straight losses.

Despite not achieving the same success as its neighborhood blueblood programs in Duke and North Carolina, Gottfried went 122-82 and reached two Sweet 16s, and was no slouch on the recruiting trail. He landed four McDonald's All-Americans and Rivals.com five-star recruits, and 10 more recruits ranked as four-stars.

While it may be too late to come up with top-shelf talent from the 2017 class, the 2018 group will be at the utmost importance. At the John Wall Holiday Invitational, the entire NC State coaching staff was in attendance for its top junior target, Jairus Hamilton.

Could the new staff pick up where the former left off as the ACC program sat in a great spot for the top-50 forward.

“I don’t know. It really depends on who is coming in next,” the four-star junior from Concord, N.C., said. “It is nice to go somewhere close so your family can come and watch you play but I also liked how they really tried to make a connection with me.”

Another top recruit of NC State is Elijah Weaver, No. 21 in the 2018 class. He spoke on what intrigued him most about the program.

“Dennis Smith. How well he matured and transformed into a big-time college player,” he said. “I still like (NC State) and am still interested in them but it depends on how well the new staff builds a relationship with me.”