Mixing the right ingredients ![\"Khamil](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kp527v07nk7g5q74wc.jpg\" "\\"Khamil")
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NC State forward Khamil Pierre brings the ball up during an NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan in March 2026. | Courtesy of NC State Athletics<\/p>\n
Last season, the Wolfpack had many quality ingredients on its roster, but they didn’t all mix successfully. The undersized backcourt of Brooks and Zamareya Jones<\/a> struggled against stiffer defensive teams. Jones is gone, leaving room for more length in the backcourt to pair with Brooks, who plays a small but mighty brand of basketball at 5-foot-10. <\/p>\n As for the frontcourt, Pierre played a significant role offensively as a low-post operator, but her most effective skill is her ability to drive and slash from the wings and elbows rather than working on the block. With Tilda Trygger out of the equation, there will be more room for Pierre to work in the paint from all <\/a>angles, even with the addition of former Auburn forward Khady Leye<\/a>. <\/p>\n The roster <\/p>\n As things stand, the Wolfpack has 10 players on the roster. <\/p>\n Name <\/p>\n Position <\/p>\n Notable Stats\/Accolades <\/p>\n Zoe Brooks<\/p>\n G<\/p>\n 16 PTS, 4.7 REB, 4.3 AST, 1.7 STL, 2X All-ACC First Team <\/p>\n Qadence Samuels<\/p>\n G<\/p>\n 6.4 PTS, 4.8 REB <\/p>\n Adelaide Jernigan <\/p>\n G<\/p>\n Former No. 1 recruit in North Carolina <\/p>\n Ky’She Lunan <\/p>\n G <\/p>\n 4.5 PTS, 1.4 REB, 1.2 AST, 34% 3PT<\/p>\n Kamora Pruitt<\/p>\n G\/W<\/p>\n No. 40 recruit (ESPN)<\/p>\n Khamil Pierre <\/p>\n F<\/p>\n 16.7 PTS, 11.9 REB, 52.5% FG, All-ACC First Team <\/p>\n Khady Leye<\/p>\n F<\/p>\n 9.5 PTS, 5.3 REB <\/p>\n Maddie Cox <\/p>\n F<\/p>\n 2.8 PTS, 2.8 REB, 36.8% 3PT<\/p>\n Annsley Trivette<\/p>\n F<\/p>\n Four-star recruit (ESPN) <\/p>\n Favour Ossai Chinoye<\/p>\n F<\/p>\n International recruit <\/p>\n Remaining needs N.C. State head coach Wes Moore reacts to a play against Michigan during the first half of NCAA Tournament Second Round at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 22, 2026. | Junfu Han \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Wolfpack still has some holes on the roster, especially with so many young and unproven players. The hope is that Qadence Samuels can be more effective as a 3-point shooter in her second year at NC State, something the program expected when she transferred in from UConn before the 2025-26 campaign. Still, Moore needs another consistent 3-point shooter to replace Jones’ ability from deep. <\/p>\n The frontcourt size remains somewhat underwhelming, especially after losing the 6-foot-6 Trygger to the transfer portal. Adding one more defensive-oriented big should help NC State make up for some of the lost paint presence and rim protection in that area. However, Moore might want his group to be more nimble and versatile in transition than it was during the 2025-26 season, so another smaller wing who can rebound at a high rate might be in the cards. <\/p>\n![\"Wes](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kq1fh036yhej06kcc5.jpg\" "\\"Wes")
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