Sendek Comments on Top 20 Class

For North Carolina State, fighting for recruits in the competitive ACC with next door neighbors of the likes of Duke and UNC is no easy task. Despite the difficulty, the Wolfpack signed four top flight players this week, landing them at No. 19 in the Rivals.com 2004 Basketball Team Rankings.

The Wolfpack landed transfer point guard Tony Bethel from Georgetown. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Bethel is already practicing with the team and making a positive impact.

Two combo forwards, Andrew Brackman (No. 23 small forward in the Rivals150) and Gavin Grant (No. 29 small forward in the Rivals150), bring versatile games to Raleigh that should work well in Coach Herb Sendek’s motion offense.

Power forward Cedric Simmons is the highest ranked player of the group. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Simmons should make an immediate impact as the No. 20 power forward and No. 67 player in the Rivals150.

Coach Sendek is excited about the versatility and character of these four recruits.

“We are really pleased with this class,” Coach Sendek to RivalsHoops.com. “We addressed some needs and have some outstanding young men coming in to our program. They are all versatile players that should fit in well.”

One unique situation that Coach Sendek will have to manage is Brackman’s playing baseball as well as basketball.

“It should work out fine,” Coach Sendek said. “The baseball coach and I are best of friends. Andrew is a pitcher and not an everyday player. There is enough baseball left after the basketball season for him to play, and the sports are compatible enough for him to throw and stuff on the side during basketball season.”