Will Wade is bolting N.C. State after just one season as the Wolfpack's head coach. He's returning to LSU, where he served as the Tigers' head coach from 2017 to 2022.
N.C. State, led by former Syracuse basketball guard Quadir Copeland, went 20-14 this past term, with the Wolfpack falling to Texas in a First Four match-up of the 2026 NCAA Tournament (both received No. 11 seeds to the Big Dance).
Given that there will be a new head coach at N.C. State, some current Wolfpack players and 2026 signees could ultimately follow Wade to LSU. That's assuming N.C. State players decide to enter the transfer portal, and high school seniors request a release from their commitments to the Wolfpack.
Should some Wolfpack guys end up on the open market, it's possible that new Orange head coach Gerry McNamara and his soon-to-be-named assistant staff could take a look at these N.C. State players/commits.
McNamara, on Thursday, was slated to meet with the existing 'Cuse roster to get a better feel for roster retention efforts. The transfer portal will run from April 7 to April 21. Additionally, if there is a head coaching change at a school, a 15-day transfer portal window will open five days after the new head coach is hired or publicly announced.
Syracuse basketball may want to evaluate N.C. State players and recruits.
Current N.C. State players
Paul McNeil Jr.
Sophomore guard from Rockingham, N.C.
2025-26 stats: 13.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game; 43.3 percent from the field, 42.7 percent from beyond the arc and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line
Matt Able
Freshman guard from Baltimore
2025-26 stats: 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest; 41.6 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from downtown and 79.6 percent from the charity stripe
Wolfpack 2026 signees
Cole Cloer
Small forward out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
247Sports Composite rankings: Four stars, No. 85 nationally, No. 34 at small forward and No. 16 in Florida
Trevon Carter-Givens
Center at the SoCal Academy in Castaic, Calif.
247Sports Composite rankings: Four stars, No. 118 nationwide, No. 16 at center and No. 9 in California