Will Wade discusses NC State basketball in opening press conference
Will Wade was introduced as the N.C. State men’s basketball coach Tuesday at Reynolds Coliseum. Here’s the question-and-answer portion of the press conference.
Williams averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season for a Texas Tech team that made the Elite Eight.Williams withdrew from the NBA Draft to maintain college eligibility.
Will Wade continues to make waves ahead of his debut as the head coach of N.C. State basketball.
Darrion Williams, one of the top players in the transfer portal, has committed to join Wade’s Wolfpack in the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for Texas Tech, which advanced to the Elite Eight.
“See you soon,” Williams wrote in a social media post on May 22, tagging the N.C. State men’s basketball X account.
Since Wade was hired to lead the Wolfpack in late March, N.C. State has added seven players via the portal to join three incoming freshmen and sophomore returner Paul McNeil. Williams is the latest to join a group that will be tasked with helping N.C. State rebound from a 12-19 record.
Here’s a breakdown of what Williams can provide for the Pack in the 2025-26 season.
Darrion Williams stats, scouting report for NC State basketball
A junior from California who started his career at Nevada before two seasons at Texas Tech, Williams was one of the top players for the Red Raiders in a variety of ways. He scored 20 or more points in three of Texas Tech’s four NCAA Tournament games, including 23 points, five rebounds and three steals in an Elite Eight loss to eventual national champion Florida.
Williams, who was also reportedly considering Kansas and Ohio State, went through the NBA Draft Combine before withdrawing his name to maintain his college eligibility. He was among the top shooters in a 3-point drill at the combine after making 34% of his 3s with the Red Raiders last season. He had 15 games with multiple 3-pointers as a junior.
Darrion Williams makes NC State contender in ACC, NCAA Tournament
Prior to Williams’ commitment, Wade’s work in the portal already was arguably good enough to make N.C. State an NCAA Tournament team. With Williams joining the Wolfpack, N.C. State will be expected to compete atop the ACC before making a run in March Madness. Michigan State’s Tre Holloman, McNeese State’s Quadir Copeland and Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux are among the players being tasked with helping the Pack forget about a losing record last season.
Williams, one of the most well-rounded players in the portal, will arrive in Raleigh as an All-Big 12 selection capable of becoming the alpha for Wade’s Wolfpack. He hit the game-tying and game-winning shots in Texas Tech’s Sweet 16 win against Arkansas. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him have similar moments in a turnaround season for N.C. State, which levels up with Williams joining the program.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.Â