NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Point guard Lorenzo Brown will travel with N.C. State’s basketball team to Spain next month but probably won't play in any of the Wolfpack's five exhibition games, coach Mark Gottfried said Thursday.

Brown had exploratory knee surgery June 26 and is on track to be 100 percent for the start of the season.

“We’re going to take our time with him and make sure he’s completely healthy,” Gottfried said Thursday at the EYBL finals at the Nike Peach Jam.

The team has been able to practice in preparation for the Aug. 5 trip Spain, and Brown has done some shooting drills, Gottfried said, but he has not been cleared to run.

Brown led N.C. State in assists (6.2 per game) and the ACC in steals (1.8 per game) as a sophomore last season, his first at point guard. He had a meniscus tear in his right knee, a minor injury he suffered in offseason workouts.

Gottfried said Brown likely would be able to play in Spain, and probably would if it were a regular-season game, but said there’s no reason to risk further issues.

“Our plan is to just go real slow with him,” Gottfried said.

State will play five games against Spanish pro teams over 10 days. With three McDonald's All-Americans added to four returning starters, expectations are high for Gottfried’s second season, after the Wolfpack won 24 games and reached the Sweet 16 in March.

The coach was excited about the ability to get a jump-start on the 2013 season with the early practices and trip.

“It’s a good learning experience for everybody,” Gottfried said.

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