It’s official, DJ Funderburk returning to NC State basketball
N.C. State forward D.J. Funderburk was seen practicing with the Wolfpack in a photo that went viral last week.
Players returned for official workouts and there was Funderburk in a full sweat, going through drills with the rest of the team. That led to speculation that Funderburk would be on the 2020-21 roster. Now it’s official. The school announced on Friday that Funderburk will be returning for his senior season.
“At this time I’ announcing my decision to return to N.C. State for my senior season,” Funderburk said in a statement. “I think we have all the pieces to have a great season and I’m excited to help lead the team back to the NCAA Tournament.”
Shortly after the ACC Tournament ended in March, Funderburk and Devon Daniels announced they would go through the NBA pre-draft process. Daniels withdrew in June, but Funderburk was still a toss up. Now Kevin Keatts knows that one of his most experienced players will be back.
“I want to thank my parents, as well as my teammates and the coaching staff at N.C. State, for their support over these last few months while I pursued my dream of playing professional basketball,” Funderburk said. “It was a unique process, especially this year with everything going on in the world, but I appreciate everybody that took the time to give me feedback.”
Funderburk (6-10, 225) averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a redshirt junior. The Ohio native shot 60 percent from the field last year and 76 percent from the foul line. He is the returning leader in both categories for N.C. State, which ended last year with a 73-58 win over Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament (the next day, coronavirus concerns shut down the season). Funderburk finished that game with 10 points and seven rebounds. Funderburk started just 15 games last season, but should be a fixture in the frontcourt this upcoming season on one of the deepest teams Keatts has had in Raleigh.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Funderburk and sophomore Manny Bates mostly rotated in the paint for Keatts, but did provide a twin towers duo at times. Keatts welcomes three bigs in the 2020 recruiting class — Nick Farrar, Jaylen Gibson and Ebenezer Dowuona — but can bring the trio along slowly now that Funderburk returns.
Keatts can start Bates (6-11, 230), who averaged just 5.1 points per game as a redshirt freshman, or Funderburk. Bates was one of the better rim protectors in the ACC, with 83 blocks last season. Early in the 2019-20 season, Keatts had Funderburk provide a spark off the bench. Then in January, he inserted Funderburk into the starting lineup, alongside Bates. Funderburk started 15 of the final 16 games. He scored in double figures in 12 of those 16 contests.
With Funderburk back, Gibson (6-11) and Dowuona (6-10) won’t be expected to grow up as fast. Keatts can bring them along slowly, if needed, while Bates and Funderburk do most of the heavy lifting in the paint.
Keatts returns five players who saw significant minutes a year ago, plus a five-man freshman class — guards Shakeel Moore and Cam Hayes along with three forwards — expected to contribute early. He’ll also welcome former Garner guard Thomas Allen, who sat out last season after transferring from Nebraska and Dereon Seabron, who took a redshirt season a year ago.
