Justin Gainey adds two NC locals to upcoming roster. Who’s joining the Pack
N.C. State men’s basketball has added more size and experience to the guard position.
Comeh Emuobor, a Raleigh native, returns home after signing with the Wolfpack on Thursday. He announced his commitment Wednesday night. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard joins N.C. State and Justin Gainey’s first roster after spending one season at New Hampshire.
Emuobor scored 8.9 points and pulled down 4.3 rebounds per game in his lone year with the Wildcats, including 10 double-figure contests. He has one season of eligibility remaining and was a three-star prospect in high school.
He also spent time at Central Florida and Iona. Emuobor shot 41% from the field during his previous three seasons. He reportedly shot 77 of 155 on 2-point catch-and-shoot buckets and 3 for 28 (10.7%) on catch-and-shoot 3s last year. Emuobor’s skill set appears to complement the other players, notably Paul McNeil’s 3-point shooting.
Additionally, Jacari Brim recently committed to N.C. State after playing for Appalachian State. The Clemmons, North Carolina, native said on Instagram that he is “trusting God and betting on myself.”
Brim, meanwhile, played one season with the Mountaineers and has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He made 22 appearances, averaging 1.2 points and 0.7 rebounds per outing. He is listed as a point guard who will provide depth to the roster and, hopefully, can be a developmental player who remains with the program. The incoming sophomore is listed at 6-2 and 190 pounds.
Gainey said his staff has prioritized shooting, character, finding players whose skill sets worked together and who have multiple years of eligibility.
Emuobor should help bolster the wings with his size and strength, playing either at guard or small forward. Brim joins several teammates in what Gainey hopes can be a core group that returns for multiple seasons.
“I’m trying to build a program of people that feel the same way about N.C. State that I do,” Gainey said during a news conference last week. “I think to get to that, you’re going to need some guys that have the opportunity to be here for multiple years.”
Gainey knows nothing is guaranteed and understands the financial incentives in the sport, but he also believes players who experience N.C. State on game day and the community will want to remain with the program.
He also wanted to find players from North Carolina; to protect the local talent. Both new players, and the retention of McNeil, showcase Gainey’s commitment to that goal. That should also help with long-term retention.
“My vision for the program is really taking care of the state, recruiting North Carolina really hard and trying to keep the best players in North Carolina home for that reason,” Gainey said.
Last season’s N.C. State roster featured Colt Langdon, a Raleigh native and Butler transfer. Langdon has since committed to Marshall.
The Wolfpack has moved quietly the last few weeks since McNeil’s announcement of his return. Emuobor and Brim are, for now, the 10th and 11th players on the 2026-27 roster and join six other transfers in the upcoming class.
