https://ncstate.rivals.com/news/noteboo ... e-in-limboIan Steere considering his options
While sophomore guard Braxton Beverly returned, freshman center Ian Steere was not in attendance Saturday. The 6-9, 261-pounder from Fayetteville (N.C.) Northwood Temple met with Keatts on Friday to determine his future. Steere’s name was entered into the NCAA’s new notification of transfer system.
Rivals.com ranked Steere at No. 138 overall in the country in the class of 2018. He originally verbally committed to Creighton, but then backed out on the Bluejays and zeroed in on NC State.
“I told him to sit back and take a couple of days and decide if this is the best fit for him, or if there is another place he can obviously go,” Keatts said. “I plan to have a conversation with him on Monday.”
Steere was the last player to check in against Chowan in the exhibition game and against Mount St. Mary’s in the season opener last Tuesday. He had four points and four rebounds in five minutes of action against Mount St. Mary’s.
“I wanted him to take a couple of days where he was still excited about being at NC State,” Keatts said. “I hope it works out for Ian because he can be a very good basketball player.”
Without Steere, the Wolfpack don’t have a third post player this season. Freshman Jericole Hellems would be the third guy, but at 6-7 and 198 pounds, he’d have trouble against ACC centers on defense. NC State will need redshirt junior Wyatt Walker and redshirt sophomore Funderburk to remain healthy and avoid foul trouble. Funderburk played well Saturday, making all five shots for 13 points and five boards.
“He [Funderburk] has been good for us,” Keatts said. “He is a young man, and I’ve said this before, he can guard the one-through-five. He can make shots, he’s long and he can rebound the basketball.”