Former North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin’s transfer to NC State has shaken up the ACC basketball landscape. Wolfpack HC Will Wade has been supportive of Lubin from the start and even criticized the rival team for not utilizing him properly.
However, Wade’s recent praise has raised expectations for the young star to a whole new level.
Will Wade Praises Ven-Allen Lubin’s Efficiency, Fit with NC State
NC State basketball HC Will Wade has recently created a lot of buzz in the media, both because of former North Carolina standout Ven-Allen Lubin’s transfer to the Wolfpack and for criticizing his rival team with a sharp jab.
“The other school was too dumb to play him, we’re gonna play him, so he’s gonna average 15 and 8,” Wade recently said.
He still stands firm in his statements and continues to strongly praise Lubin. In the middle of the NBA Draft, the situation has calmed down a bit, but Wade continues to hold his ground. The most important part is that he reportedly considers Lubin a centerpiece of his vision for the Wolfpack’s frontcourt.
Lubin’s record at North Carolina was not strong enough to meet the expectations set by his high school recruiting profile. Last season, he averaged just 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in about 19.6 minutes per game across 37 appearances. He started in 20 of those games, but head coach Hubert Davis was still adjusting his frontcourt rotations.
That became even more complicated after bringing in some high-profile names like Henry Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, who were expected to take on major roles.
RELATED: Analysts State Main Concern For Will Wade After Attack on Ven-Allen Lubin’s Handling at UNC
Wade’s vision for Lubin is completely opposite to Davis’s. Speaking on a recent episode of the “CBS Sports College Basketball” podcast, Wade said, “I think more importantly, we got a player that is very, very efficient and has proven that he’s a good player in the ACC.”
He continued, “He’s a hard worker, he does everything that you ask, he can take your coaching and then put it directly into the play.”
Talking about fan excitement, Wade added, “Hey, our fans enjoy that, our people enjoy that. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever gotten, you know, we’ve ever had a direct transfer from there. And so, that’s more for the fans to get excited about.”
Though his overall season average was under 10 points, Lubin finished the 2024-2025 season with double-digit scoring in 10 consecutive games, including a 20-point, 10-rebound effort against Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals. That late-season surge is what is giving Coach Wade confidence in him.
“I think in our system he projects really, really well,” Wade added. “Great kid, great person, high-level player, and I think that he’s got another couple gears that we’re going to be able to reach here with him this season at NC State.”
Wade is visibly hyping up the kid a lot. It remains to be seen whether Lubin will live up to the expectation or fall under the pressure. However, NC State fans are enjoying the moment, as Wade himself said that his fans are loving the ongoing excitement.
