Four-star center Trevon Carter-Givens committed to NC State on Thursday, choosing the Wolfpack over USC and San Diego State. The 2026 prospect cited head coach Will Wade’s belief in his NBA potential as the deciding factor.
Why Trevon Carter-Givens Believes NC State Is His Best Path Forward
Carter-Givens announced his commitment live on the CBS College Basketball YouTube channel. The 6-foot-11, 190-pound prospect from SoCal Academy is ranked No. 115 nationally in the 2026 class by 247Sports. When asked why he chose NC State, he made his choice clear.
“Mainly cause Coach Will Wade believes in I could be a NBA player. And NC State’s a great program, great facilities, great team, and the culture is crazy,” Carter-Givens said.
Carter-Givens took his official visit to Raleigh on September 5-6, attending the football game against Virginia and meeting with the coaching staff and players. When asked about what made NC State feel like home during that weekend, his response was telling.
“It felt like NC State, that just focused on winning. It feels more like a family, so I feel like being a part of that would be something special,” Carter-Givens explained.
The interviewer also asked Carter-Givens about his role as Wade’s first 2026 commitment and what he brings to the program. “I bring a defensive presence, you know, I’d protect the rim with everything I have, and I’ll give everything to NC State,” he said.
Carter-Givens backed up those words with his summer performance. He averaged 6.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 72.9% from the field during EYBL play with Team WhyNot. In EYBL Session 2 specifically, he dominated defensively with 2.3 blocks per game, establishing himself as one of the premier rim protectors in the country.
The commitment came after Carter-Givens narrowed his finalists from a lengthy list that included USC, Washington, San Diego State, Florida State, and Creighton.
Carter-Givens had previously praised Wade’s approach when he received his offer in July. “Coach Will Wade reached out to me on a phone call, he offered me a scholarship and said he loved how I played on the defensive side and how team-oriented I am,” Carter-Givens told Sports Illustrated earlier this summer.
After his visit, Carter-Givens said that Wade’s success at winning and developing professional players was another factor that impressed him.
Multiple programs recruited Carter-Givens hard, but Wade’s belief in his NBA future made the difference. The commitment gives NC State a rim protector and shows Wade can land top talent in his first year leading the Wolfpack.
