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Wolfpack gets commitments from two four-star recruits

Jul 28, 2008

N.C. State has landed a pair of four-star basketball recruits from Georgia in guard Lorenzo Brown and forward Richard Howell, packpride.com is reporting.

The 6-4 Brown and 6-8 Howell become the second and third commitments for the Wolfpack from the Class of 2009. State also has a commitment from 6-5 Scott Wood of Marion, Ind.

Arriving on campus this fall will be a pair of three-star players in 6-4 C.J. Williams of Fayetteville Britt and 6-1 Julius Mays of Marion, Ind.

Monday’s news was a major boost for a program that suffered a disappointing 2008 season and saw center J.J. Hickson turn professional after one year.

Brown, from Centennial High in Roswell, Ga., is considered a quick player and solid shooter who could evolve into a college point guard. He continues Sidney Lowe’s push for sleek, versatile players who can play a more up-tempo style.

Howell plays high school ball at Marietta Wheeler, where Hickson played.

"I've got a good relationship with coach Lowe and [assistant coach Larry] Harris, and it's a great school,” Howell told packpride.com. “My mother just moved back there, and I feel like it's the best place for me to go play ball at and go to school at."

Howell emerged this spring and summer as a focal point for the Wolfpack. After a stellar week at Reebok U., he continued his strong play at the 2008 Peach State Summer Showcase.

In three games, Howell posted two double-doubles, including a 32-point, 15-rebound effort in the opener. He followed that up with a 20-point, 10-rebound game and in his final contest he totaled 20 points and eight boards to lead his World Wide Orange squad. WWO left the tournament early because they were slated to play in the Adidas Hoops Festival, but Howell knows he impressed the college coaches in attendance.

He played well in the Adidas Hoops Festival and in Las Vegas with the World Wide Renegades Orange, leading them deep into both tournaments.

Howell began his prep career with a bang, and he projected as one of the top players in his class. The 6-foot-8, 225-pounder suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for a period of time, and he has had to overcome a lingering back injury as well. Right now he's playing his best basketball, and it's no coincidence it comes at a time when he's becoming fully healthy and regaining his explosiveness.

"My back and knee have been hurting a little bit, but I'm coming back," he said. "The back is almost healthy, but I twisted my knee a couple of weeks ago when I banged knees with a guy. It seems like I've been bumping knees with a different guy every game. With my back, I had a cyst in it and a herniated disc. When I went back to the doctor the cyst was gone, and I've been doing all my rehab. It's healing faster than my doctor expected.

"I feel like with rehab I'm getting stronger, and I'm coming back even better and more explosive than I was. I feel like I'm playing real well right now."

With offers from Oregon, Marquette, Tennessee, Texas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, and N.C. State among others, Howell sat down with his family over the weekend and reached a decision.

"My family thinks that I made the best decision out of all of the choices," he said.

Howell is currently rated a four-star prospect and the No. 74 player in the country by Scout.com.