RALEIGH — Now that his staff is finalized, Justin Gainey is getting into the swing of things in transfer portal season as he builds up NC State men’s basketball. The Wolfpack lost the majority of its production from the 2025-26 roster to graduation and the transfer portal, especially after Will Wade’s departure following just one season at the helm.
Gainey and the Pack hosted talented Santa Clara transfer Christian Hammond for a visit that began on Saturday, including a quick trip to Doak Field at Dail Park to take in a victory for Wolfpack baseball. However, the rest of the staff is working hard to find other targets, with three reportedly jumping to the top of the list over the last 24 hours alongside Hammond.
Torey Alston – Middle Tennessee
The Wolfpack needs to add several frontcourt players to accommodate Gainey’s plans for toughness as the identity of the program, so digging into the local talent well might be a worthy strategy. Middle Tennessee forward Torey Alston is from nearby Durham, N.C. and reportedly held a Zoom meeting with the Wolfpack earlier in the week.
Alston averaged 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in his sophomore season with the Blue Raiders, helping the team to a 17-15 finish in Conference-USA. Gainey indicated his interest in winning the state of North Carolina in the recruiting battle every year so that sentiment might apply to the transfer portal as well. Getting a productive player like Alston in the building would go a long way toward establishing dominance over local talent and boxing out the rival Tobacco Road program.
Jimmie Williams – Duquesne
NC State showed up on a list of interested teams for Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams, another highly productive mid-major player out of the Atlantic-10. The Wolfpack is clearly identifying players with a proven track record, no matter what level it comes at, so Williams fits that mold after a very successful junior season with the Dukes. He also fills a massive need at guard for the Pack…