Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

Colleges

Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

Feb 25, 2013

comments

Raleigh, N.C. — Louisburg College is currently ranked No. 2 in the Division II National Junior College poll with their lone loss coming to No. 20 Wake Tech – a program new to the big stage.

Just four years after the program’s inception, Wake Tech has transformed into a player at the NJC level, but the Eagles’ accelerated rise to prominence hasn’t been without a few growing pains.

"A lot of humbling moments," said Wake Tech Head Coach Van Williams. "A lot of moments when I had to put the happy face on to go home and see my wife and kids."

Now, you can’t wipe the smile off of Williams’ face. Sporting a roster filled with almost all homegrown talent, Wake Tech continues to raise the bar.

"We've definitely exceeded our own expectations," said Wake Tech sophomore and Southeast Raleigh graduate Joshua Cassady.

The Eagles boast a 21-7 record, including a nine-game win streak. They have cracked the national top-20 for the first time in school history. And the biggest single moment of the year – a win over then-No. 1 Louisburg.

"Honestly, that was one of the best feelings we've ever felt," said Cassady. "We came so far. It took a lot of us sticking together, but we did it."

But they are still not where they want to be.

"We've talked about it a lot, how this gym looks kind of empty with no banners up yet," said Wake Tech sophomore guard and Enloe graduate Andrew Bost. "We want to be the first ones to put a banner up."

As of now, Wake Tech may be a mere blip on the radar in the college basketball rich Triangle area, but they are confident that they will be heard from more moving forward.

"It's funny, I was listening to Adam and Joe on The Fan, and somebody called in and they were ragging Duke and Carolina," said Williams. "'Carolina looked like Wake Tech,' they said. I didn't take that offensively, I was excited! It's kind of like "the Pirates of the Caribbean." They tell Jack Sparrow, 'you may be the worst pirate ever," and he said, 'but you do know who I am! You have heard of me.'"

Reporter: Jared Fialko
Web Editor: Aaron Schoonmaker

Most Recent Comments

View All Comments

RE: Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

I have friends that are all from the great state of NC, and its amazinng how much hate they have on there homegrown players. I have seen some of these kids root aganist some of them. Wall, West, CJL, Wells, Purvis, etc. If they dont go to your favorite school then these kids dont matter, and people try and find something wrong with them, or there game. I know it has been times I have said negative things about Ryan Kelly's game, but I dont want him to fail. Actually I feel for him with his foot injuries.

RE: Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

How is my hometown Sandhills CC doing this year? They won it all last year. There are alot of kids sitting on the bench at major universities that could be playing. Case in point Luke Davis from UNC. I watched him at Broughton, and Ravenscroft. Played well at Gardner Webb. The kid can play at that level.

RE: Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

I thought this article was going to be about the wuffies and Purvis.
- Posted by still heelman1973

You know what? you guys might have beaten us the 2nd time, but we got you the first time around (and I'm sure you weren't expecting that either...), so are you implying that Wake Tech could beat your Tar Holes???!! B/c based on how/what they've been doing, I'd say that quite possibly sums it up!

GO EAGLES!!! :) And GO WOLFPACK!! (always a fan, regardless of what any classless Tar Hole has to say!!)

P.S. there's "no rivalry" but yet you guys have to talk smack and put us down like there IS a rivalry???... hmm, I wonder....

RE: Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

GO EAGLES!!!!!!

RE: Wake Tech making noise with homegrown talent

I think Wake Tech has a good chance to be good in all of their sports. Lots of good high school talent feeding into their programs.

View All Comments

WRAL Sports Fan

Colleges