A transfer portal trade? Not exactly, but NC State, Clemson basketball swap players
N.C. State’s basketball roster rebuild landed the Wolfpack its second player in two days through the NCAA transfer portal.
Ben Middlebrooks, a 6-10 center who played at Clemson last season, announced Tuesday morning he’ll play for N.C. State next season. Shortly after Middlebrooks’ announcement, 6-8 forward Jack Clark announced he was transferring from the Wolfpack to Clemson.
Middlebrooks’ announcement came one day after guard D.J. Horne announced his plans to transfer from Arizona State to N.C. State.
Middlebrooks played in 34 games with seven starts for the Tigers last season as a sophomore. He averaged 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He is eligible immediately and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
With 6-9, 275-pound center D.J. Burns returning after averaging 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds last season, Middlebrooks gives N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts more depth on the interior. The Wolfpack also return 6-9 forward Ernest Ross and 7-1 center Isaiah Miranda.
After making the NCAA Tournament while going 23-11 last season, Keatts has added three players as transfers. Jayden Taylor, a 6-4 guard, announced last week he’s coming to N.C. State after playing at Butler last season.
After transferring from LaSalle to N.C. State last summer, Clark played in 23 games during an injury-plagued season with the Wolfpack. He started 17 games and averaged 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds for the season.
NC State women lose Diamond Johnson
Diamond Johnson, a 5-5 junior guard who started 21 games for N.C. State’s women’s basketball team last season, announced Monday on social media that she is entering the transfer portal.
Johnson scored 12.3 points with 3.5 assists per game last season for the Wolfpack.
“Due to some unfortunate situations and after weeks of prayer and talks with my family,” Johnson wrote on Twitter, “I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal and find out where my journey takes me next.”
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 12:44 PM.