NC State basketball practice video, highlights with Will Wade
N.C. State basketball started official practice on Sept. 22. Here’s video highlights from the Wolfpack’s first practice with Will Wade.
RALEIGH — Dunking, shooting and smiling, Ven-Allen Lubin was wearing his familiar No. 22 jersey and a headband inside the Dail Basketball Center.
But unlike his first season as a college basketball player on Tobacco Road, Lubin is rocking red instead of Carolina blue as a member of the N.C. State Wolfpack. When asked if it was weird switching colors and putting on that red jersey for the first time, Lubin smiled as he provided a response.
“It wasn’t something that I put too much thought about,” he said on the Wolfpack’s first official day of practice with first-year coach Will Wade.
“It was just something like, ‘Hey, I’m just looking at it as another opportunity and it’s gonna be my last year, so I just want to make the most of it.’ ”
Believed to be the first Tar Heel to make the roughly 25-mile move from UNC directly to N.C. State, Lubin is expected to fill a vital role with the Wolfpack as a 6-foot-9, 250-pound senior forward.
Lubin is set to become the fifth player to suit up for both programs since the 1940s. Bernie Mack, Fred Swartzberg and Bones McKinney started their careers with the Wolfpack, but joined the Tar Heels after returning from service in World War II. Dontrez Styles, who suited up at N.C. State last season, played at UNC before transferring to Georgetown and later joining the Wolfpack.
Lubin entered the transfer portal on April 21, writing a social media post that said he had the “full intent on returning to UNC,” citing the “complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement” as his primary reason for entering college basketball’s version of free agency. He announced his commitment to N.C. State on June 1.
“It was really just a decision for myself and the people in my circle. We wanted to figure out what’s gonna be next for me and what’s gonna be best for me,” Lubin said of his decision to leave Chapel Hill.
“I have respect for UNC. Just grateful for them giving me an opportunity to play for them. I just believe that whatever happened through that moment was just for a reason and it led me here. So, I have no regret in being here. I look forward to what’s gonna happen.”
Will Wade says Ven-Allen Lubin will play ‘major part’ for NC State basketball
During his first season in the Triangle, Lubin played in each of UNC’s 37 games, becoming the Tar Heels’ top post player by the end of the season. He averaged 8.7 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game, leading the squad with a 68.4% shooting percentage.
Lubin reached double-digit points in 11 straight games to close the year. He averaged 13.6 points in that stretch, including averages of 16 points and 11 rebounds during UNC’s three games in the ACC Tournament.
Known for his offensive rebounding and rim-rocking power, Lubin looked the part in N.C. State’s first official practice. Listed at 230 pounds on UNC’s 2024-25 roster, Lubin has bulked up 20 pounds, according to the Wolfpack’s roster for the 2025-26 season.
“Ven’s a tremendous player — somebody that we’re going to utilize and play to his strengths. He’s somebody that has an incredible finishing ability around the rim. If you look back to when he was at Vanderbilt, he made about a third of his (3-pointers) there, so we’re going to allow him to step out and shoot some 3s,” Wade said.
“He’s a good rebounder for his size and finishes well around the rim. He’s an extremely, extremely, extremely efficient player. He’s always around the play, but he’s never in the way, which is hard to do, especially as a bigger guy. Usually, they’re in the play but also in the way. He’s somebody who knows spacing and understands things.”
Lubin appears to be the Wolfpack’s most polished player in the post. During the portion of practice open to media members, Lubin dunked everything in every drill, unbothered as he was being battered by assistant coaches with blocking pads.
Lubin also spent a lot of time getting in work on the wing, firing up 3-pointers throughout that 30-minute section of practice. There remains a noticeable hitch in his shooting form, but Lubin started to find his groove as practice progressed, swishing several shots in a row.
After missing each of his three attempts from beyond the arc last season at UNC, Lubin and Wade believe there’s opportunity to further tap into that area. In his one season at Vanderbilt, Lubin made 13-of-39 shots (33.3%) from deep.
When asked what’s different about his game with the Wolfpack, Lubin said he has an opportunity to be “more explosive,” “play multiple positions” and “expand my game out to the 3-point” line.
“I think that Coach Wade has installed that confidence in me early on. He knows I can do it, he’s seen me do it, even before he met me,” Lubin said of his shooting ability.
“He wants to be able to have all the packets of my game, so it was something that I really worked hard for in the summer — this offseason — just trying to build myself and to be prepared.”
So far, Wade couldn’t be more pleased that Lubin ditched the blue in favor of red.
“He’s extremely mature. He just recently got engaged. He’s a really, really good person,” Wade said. “We’ve got great people all up and down our roster, and he’s somebody that’s going to play a major, major part in our success this season.”
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.