Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Pack 7-foot recruit eager for ACC play

By Tim Stevens
Staff Writer

N.C. State’s newest basketball recruit says he has never played a game in the United States but he already knows about Atlantic Coast Conference basketball.
Jordan Vandenberg is a native of Australia, grew up in Melbourne and his only experience playing in the U.S. is open gyms at the University of Nevada Reno and at Boise State.
But the 7-foot, 235-pound center knows about college basketball.
“[The ACC] is said to be the hardest competition in college basketball and it is always fierce, fast and strong,” Vandenberg said via email.
The opportunity to play in the league is one of the things that made State attractive to him, he said.
But to play in the ACC, Vandenberg knows he needs to gain weight. He hopes to be able to contribute next season.
“I bring length so I would be able to change shots and rebound most importantly,” he said.
“I know I will be playing limited minutes until I can fully hold my own physically,” he said.
Vandenberg chose State over Utah Valley, Boise State and Nevada-Reno.
State assistant coach Pete Strickland spotted Vandenberg during the center’s one year at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Vandenberg said he admires the play of fellow Australian 7-foot, 260-pound Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks, a former Utah star, and 7-foot, 250-pound Paul Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is a native of Spain.
“I admire most Pau Gasol and Andrew Bogut,” he said. “Theyare very skilled and versatile big men.”
Vandenberg is State’s fifth basketball recruit in the Class of 2009.
State also has signed 6-6 forward Josh Davis of Raleigh Athens Drive, 6-5 guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial, 6-5 guard Scott Wood of Marion, Ind., and 6-7 forward Richard Howell of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

State has zero chance of being competitive in the ACC!! What a joke of a coach Sidney "Kool Aid" Lowe is for them. Roy rules the ACC and State fans can only daydream about what it's like to win Nat'l Champ's. Especially since it has been...what? 25 years!!! I can't wait to see the Aussie try to play against our 2nd string McD's team!!

Anonymous said...

Nice Pick up state! cant wait for basketball season to start again! These recruits coming in look really good and should make a big impact early on now that we cut the loose bagage of this team.

Hey Anon dont you have somewhere else to whine, clearly you are worried since you are commenting on an article about state, if you didnt care you wouldnt be here reading!

GO PACK!!!

Anonymous said...

Go Pack! It's unfortunately the Carolina fans still have found nothing better to do than comment on articles about schools other than their own. It's not Kook Aid, anon. It's called team spirit and I'm glad we have it without being egotistical jerks about it.

Anonymous said...

Yes, because Carolina has had a good team every single year and also wins the championship every single year.

Keep dreaming, your delusions will keep you from seeing the Pack build their program back...then they will come to beat your team at your little dome.

Tom from Raleigh said...

Anon #1....yeah, seriously, find something better to do. its one thing if state fans are talking trash first, but you open the comments section throwing zingers. You're the reason that some people hate carolina fans.


Anon #2...i honestly thought you were being sarcastic at first, pretty much in the same vain as anon #1. this australian giant and the kid from Athens won't "make a big impact" for at least 1 season.

and anon. #3....he's a round looking guy who wears red. come on. However, as far as I'm concerned, wearing the red jacket is the only thing Sidney Lowe has given pack fans to be excited about. so i can see why you're so defensive about it.

and anon #4....not happening anytime soon.

and you are all little girls for posting anonymous. if u wanna talk crap then at least make up a name so you don't seem so ridiculous.

MichaelProcton said...

Darn right. When you post your first name and your place of residence (one with a population of almost 400,000 people), you prove yourself as a man. We all stand in awe, Tom.

Hey tom my name is Alex from raleigh too, hope this is good for you said...

Alright tom, seeing that you are from raleigh you will hopefuly understand how awful the chemistry has been on this team the past few years. I honestly think this team will be better next year. Im not talking about making leaps and bounds and contending for championship but i plan on seeing a more up tempo style and people wanting to play not kids walking up and down the court. As a state grad i always look forward to anything state.