Everything you need to know about NC State basketball portal moves
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Four players entered/are expected to enter the portal, risking a roster overhaul.
- Paul McNeil’s elite 3-point shooting drew NBA scout evaluations and portal buzz.
- Coach Justin Gainey must replace potential losses in scoring, shooting and defense.
Four N.C. State Wolfpack men’s basketball players entering the portal at once could reshape the roster heading into a critical offseason under new head coach Justin Gainey.
NC State men’s basketball faces a potential roster overhaul. Paul McNeil, Matt Able, Cole Cloer and Terrance Arceneaux have all entered or are expected to enter the transfer portal. They were joined Thursday by reserves Alyn Breed, Colt Langdon and Jayme Kontuniemi, with Breed being the most notable of that trio.
The departures come as the program adjusts to yet another coaching change, with Gainey replacing Will Wade.
Which NC State players are entering the transfer portal?
McNeil, a sophomore guard from Rockingham, is expected to be one of the most sought-after shooters in the portal this cycle. He averaged 13.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 34 games this season, shooting 42.7% from 3-point range — a mark that led the ACC and ranked in the top 20 nationally. McNeil finished with 105 made 3-pointers, tying DJ Horne’s single-season program record. He recently underwent evaluation from NBA scouts.
“That means a lot, especially being from here,” said McNeil. “There’s a lot of basketball. I think we’re the hoops state. … That’s one of the reasons I stayed here, to do that.”
His standout moment came against Texas Southern in the program’s heritage game at Reynolds Coliseum, where he scored a career-high 47 points on a record 11 3-pointers and added 10 rebounds. His 11 3-pointers tied the ACC single-game record. According to the Field of 68, McNeil was the first player since the 2004-05 season to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds and 11 or more 3-pointers in a single game. His scoring output ranks No. 5 in program history, tying Sammy Ranzino (1951) for the most points in a single game.
Able, a freshman guard, averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while hitting 35.5% of his 3-pointers. He is also entering the NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility and has until 11:59 p.m. on May 28 to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to school. Able scored a career-high 19 points on 5-of-7 3-point shooting during an 82-58 win over North Carolina.
Arceneaux, a redshirt junior who transferred from Houston before this season, averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in a defensive specialist role. He recorded 26 steals and 11 blocks in 30 games. Cloer, a Class of 2026 signee, has also entered the portal.
Breed appeared in 21 games, averaging 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per appearance. The veteran guard scored a season-high 12 points in the Wolfpack’s 76-61 loss to Virginia on Jan. 3, going 6 for 6 from the free-throw line. He added at least four rebounds in five games played.
Langdon transferred from Butler after redshirting his first season. He played six games and scored two points in November — his first college points — prior to a season-ending injury. Langdon underwent surgery earlier this year.
Kontuniemi, from Helsinki, redshirted the season after arriving in Raleigh last summer. He played in the U20 European Youth Basketball League, leading his team to a 12-0 record and European Youth Basketball League U20 Championship.
Why are NC State players entering the transfer portal?
The Wolfpack has cycled through three head coaches since Kevin Keatts was terminated last March. Wade was then introduced as head coach, and McNeil developed into a starter and key scoring threat under him. Gainey — who coached with the Tennessee Volunteers for five years — has since replaced Wade.
McNeil, Able and Cloer have all signified their openness to return to NC State if they determine it is the best option.
Arceneaux faced additional hurdles. He was limited in the first month of the season by a lingering Achilles injury and at times did not play due to a coaching decision.
“I had a shaky start with the injury and stuff like that not going my way,” Arceneaux said in January. “But I just stayed confident in myself, in my game and have been ready.”
What do the transfer portal moves mean for NC State basketball?
Losing all four players would remove scoring, shooting and defensive production from the roster. The Wolfpack’s season ended with a 68-66 loss against Texas in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament.
McNeil’s numbers jumped drastically from his freshman to sophomore year — from 4.2 points per game to 13.8 and from 35.6% to 42.7% from 3-point range. He was a four-star recruit with offers from LSU, Missouri, Miami, Tennessee and Alabama.
Able was a four-star prospect who committed to NC State last April, shortly after Wade was introduced as head coach. He was originally committed to Miami but decommitted after Jim Larrañaga’s unexpected retirement in December 2024. Arceneaux, a former American Conference All-Freshman team honoree, played in the national championship game against Florida in 2025 while at Houston.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 10:22 AM.
