Dubbed as a ‘school hopper,’ Ven-Allen Lubin finds stability at NC State
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Ven-Allen Lubin moved through four programs; N.C. State now offers stability.
- Coach Will Wade vows defined role and minutes to maximize Lubin’s production.
- Staff and teammates cite resilience and character; health will determine impact.
Ven-Allen Lubin has been criticized for transferring multiple times — some college basketball fans call him a “school hopper” for a perceived inability to stay at one program for more than a single season.
Lubin joined N.C. State men’s basketball and head coach Will Wade this summer, transferring from North Carolina. Prior to his season with the Tar Heels, Lubin also played at Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. Despite some of the external negativity, the Wolfpack isn’t concerned about his commitment.
Wade and forward Darrion Williams, also a first-year transfer, defended Lubin at ACC Tipoff in Charlotte this week.
“I think Ven gets a bad rap. Everybody acts like, ‘Oh it’s his fourth school,’” Wade said. “His coach, Mike Brey, left Notre Dame. He’d still be at Vanderbilt today if Jerry Stackhouse was still there. Then, his last school, he wasn’t used properly, so he left. I mean, two of them were coaching changes.”
Brey retired from college coaching in 2023, while Stackhouse was fired in 2024 after a 9-23 season.
At UNC, Lubin saw inconsistent usage and efficiency until late in the season. He averaged 14.6 points and eight rebounds in the final 11 games. Lubin recorded 8.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the entire season, finishing with four double-doubles.
The senior from Orlando, Florida, entered the transfer portal in April “with the full intent on returning to UNC.” The decision, he said, was based on precautions surrounding the House v. NCAA settlement.
Lubin’s decision to make the crosstown switch isn’t without precedent. Last season, Dontrez Styles played for the Wolfpack. He spent two seasons at Carolina and one at Georgetown before returning home.
Williams, when speaking about the in-state rivalry, spoke about N.C. State hating UNC, “which I don’t have a problem with.” When asked about the origin of his disdain for the program, the Texas Tech transfer’s response wasn’t about the school, but Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis.
“I think their coach did Ven wrong,” Williams said. “Then he did Kerwin Walton wrong, my old teammate at Texas Tech, when he was there. I just don’t like the guy.”
Why Lubin chose to play at NC State
Lubin ultimately committed to the Wolfpack in May, shocking both fanbases. One of the big reasons he decided to stay in the Triangle was Wade’s authenticity and transparency.
“He’s not the type of person that just wants to say things that we want to hear,” Lubin said. “He’s gonna keep it real with you, and that’s something I really admire about him.”
N.C. State also provides a sense of security. The program is committed to Wade and Wade is committed to the school. There hasn’t been much of that in his college career, with every stop marred with uncertainty surrounding the head coach’s future. Even Davis’ future with Carolina was questioned last season.
“It wasn’t easy. It was definitely stressful,” Lubin said. “That’s something I was very frustrated about, because I want to be in a place where I can grow, develop myself and relationships, and just be able to be in a stable environment.”
Wade hasn’t shied away from sharing his long-term vision for N.C. State and his usage plan for the big man.
Earlier this summer, Wade said at a supporter event, “The other school was too dumb to play him. When he plays 28-plus minutes — he’s done that in 23 games — he averages 15 [points] and eight [rebounds]. I don’t know why the hell they didn’t play him, but we’re gonna play him.”
Lubin is more confident in the things Wade allows him to do, Williams added. He’s bringing the ball up the floor and taking more shots from 3 in practice. At Notre Dame and Carolina, Lubin was a combined 1 of 14 (7.1%) from the perimeter. He shot 13 of 39 (33.3%) at Vanderbilt.
Additionally, the staff is allowing him to attack from the top of the key, as opposed to setting pick-and-rolls and sitting in position to dunk. There’s an expectation he will take a more active role in the offensive scheme.
“That’s something Will Wade sees in me, and he wants to max me out, so I won’t be disappearing on defense and things like that,” Lubin said. “He wants to make my presence known on both ends of the floor.”
Wade reiterated this week his confidence in the 6-9, 250-pound forward. In fact, a large part of the team’s success will be based on Lubin’s ability to stay healthy.
“He’s somebody that’s been rock solid for us, and, quite frankly, he’s one of our most valuable guys,” Wade said. “Kind of like Noah’s Ark, we’ve got two of a lot of everything, we ain’t got but one of him.”
‘One of the finest human beings’
Despite a tumultuous three years, Lubin did not disparage his previous teams or coaches.
He called Brey a “noble person” who constructed his program in a very specific way. Stackhouse was experienced and personal. Davis brought passion and emphasized the importance of gratitude; it’s a privilege to play college basketball at a major program. He’s grateful and blessed to have played under multiple coaches.
Those three spots also taught him to adapt to a new program, new city and new fanbase. Williams and Wade complimented Lubin’s resilience and character. The forward called Lubin the “most morally right dude,” while Wade called him “one of the finest human beings I’ve ever coached” and “the most mature, ready person.”
So there may be people who dislike his path, but Lubin is not worried about those opinions. He’s focused on the goal and has surrounded himself with people who are dedicated to helping him get there.
“My people around me block out the negativity and also give me the perspective of, ‘Nobody’s in your shoes right now. Nobody knows what you’re going through,’” Lubin said. “You know only yourself, and that’s something that you can’t really keep expressing to people. Whether they understand or not, it’s your life. It’s what you want to do. That’s something that’s gonna make me happy and something that will benefit me, my family and my future. I always put that first, and always keep that focus.”
