Choose Charleston

     The last team in the Charleston Classic 2010 field we will preview is the NC State Wolfpack.  The recent years under former player and now head coach Sidney Lowe have been rough for Wolfpack fans.  Lowe has compiled a less than spectacular record at 71-62 (20-44 ACC) but yet they are reason to be opptimsitic in Raleigh. Lowe has Tracy Smith returning, who averaged 16.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. Tracy Smith was a force down low and Lowe will again look to run his offense through the senior power forward this year.  Along with Smith, senior Javi Gonzalez will return to share the leadership role to try to return NC State to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.

The Wolfpack finished the season strong last year, making it to the ACC tournament semifinals and appearing in the second round of the NIT tournament.  Along with the two seniors, NC State returns long range expert Scott Wood and wide body Richard Howell, both who contributed during the stretch run when the Wolfpack was hitting on all cylinders.  Why would NC State be considered a favorite to challenge Georgetown for the Charleston Classic title? Look no further than the top 5 class that Sidney Lowe reeled in.  The headliner, CJ Leslie, a 6′9″McDonalds All-American will add length and shot blocking to the defensive end of the court and electrify dunks to the offensive end.  For the Wolfpack diehards though, the most welcomed arrival will be the backcourt tandem of Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown. Harrow and Brown will bring a much needed ability to breakdown defenses and push tempo which is something Sidney Lowe has been looking forward to doing since taking the job at NC State.

Interesting Fact: Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown, both five-star recruits are God Brothers. Harrow and Brown grew up in the Atlanta area together and played basketball against each other in high school before deciding to team up for the Wolfpack this year.

Joining the Charleston Classic 2010 field is a national powerhouse, the Georgetown Hoyas.  Lead by Head Coach John Thompson lll.  Georgetown is ranked top 25 in most preseason polls and will look for senior guard Austin Freeman to lead the way this year.  Freeman averaged 16.5 ppg during his junior year and will be need to continue his dominance on the court for Georgetown to win the 2010 Charleston Classic event.  Last season, Georgetown finished 23-11 overall and advanced to the Big East Tournament Championship game.  Look for Georgetown to be the favorite headed into the Charleston Classic.

Interesting Fact: Senior Point Guard, Chris Wright, originally committed to North Carolina State before reopening his recruitment after former Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek left for Arizona State.  Wright strongly considered joining the Wolfpack again under Sidney Lowe but at the last minute decided to stay closer to home at Georgetown.  Wright averaged 15.2 ppg and 4.1 apg last season and still have many Wolfpack fans wondering how different things would have been if Wright would have stayed with N.C. State.

The 2010 Charleston Classic features a Southern Conference member in the Wofford Terriers.  Wofford is coming off the programs first ever NCAA tournament appearance in a season they finished 26-9, 15-3 in conference.  It took head coach Mike Young 8 attempts, but last season was the charm!  Now, Young looks to use the Charleston Classic as a springboard to another successful season and NCAA Tournament bid.  Wofford has been ranked as the 50th best basketball team in the nation by Sporting News so the talent will be there to capture the Charleston Classic 2010 title and keep it in the state of South Carolina.  Wofford will look for senior Noah Dahlman to lead the way.  Dahlman averaged 17.8 PPG as a junior last season.  Excitement around the Wofford Terriers basketball program is at a all-time high and they will be looking to push it to the next level this season, starting with the Charleston Classic 2010 tournament.